e advancement of
agricultural and pomological science in the United States.

The plant is a strong grower, and resembles that of the Valparaiso. The
fruit is somewhat ovoid, but rather irregular in form, broadly and
faintly ribbed (sometimes, however, without rib-markings), and varies in
weight from twelve to thirty pounds and upwards; stem very large,
striated or reticulated, and often turned at right angles near its
connection with the fruit,--the opposite extremity terminates in the
wart-like excrescence peculiar to the class; skin reddish-yellow, not
unlike that of the Autumnal Marrow; the flesh is remarkably thick, of a
salmon-yellow color, sweet and well flavored. In some forms of cookery,
and especially for pies, it is esteemed equal, if not superior, to any
other variety. When served in the customary manner of serving squash at
table, it is inferior to the Hubbard or Autumnal Marrow. The seeds are
white.

WINTER CROOKNECK.

Cuckaw.

[Illustration: Winter Crookneck.]

This is one of the oldest and most familiar of the winter varieties.
Plant hardy and vigorous; fruit somewhat irregular in form, the neck
solid and nearly cylindrical, and the blossom-end more or less swollen.
In some specimens, the neck is nearly straight; in others, sweeping, or
circular; and sometimes the extremities nearly or quite approach each
other. Size very variable, being affected greatly both by soil and
season; the weight ranging from six pounds to forty pounds and upwards.
A specimen was raised by Capt. Josiah Lovett, of Beverly, Mass., and
exhibited before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the weight of
which was nearly seventy pounds. Color sometimes green; but, when fully
mature, often cream-yellow. The color, like that of the Canada
Crookneck, frequently changes after being harvested. If green when
plucked, it gradually becomes paler; or, if yellow when taken from the
vines, it becomes, during the winter, of a reddish cream-color. Flesh
salmon-yellow, not uniform in texture or solidity, sometimes
close-grained, sweet, and fine flavored, and sometimes very coarse,
stringy, and nearly worthless for the table; seeds of medium size,
grayish-white, the border darker, or brownish. About two hundred are
contained in an ounce.

It is a very hardy and productive variety; ripens its crop with great
certainty; suffers less from the depredations of insects than most of
the winter sorts; and, if protected from cold and dampness