Where such things can be done in nature as are described below there
should be hope of a time when the varieties of human nature, varying
sects, creeds and practises may be merged into a common Christian type.
An orange-cucumber, or cucumber-orange, as the name has not yet
been decided, is a freak combination raised by Howard S. Hill, a
cucumber grower of Gardner, Mass., which he is cultivating as a
new dish to tickle the palate of exacting diners.
The new fruit or vegetable resulted from an experiment made
by Mr. Hill. At that time an orange-tree was in full bloom in
his cucumber hothouse at the same time that the blossom of the
cucumber vines first appeared. Mr. Hill transferred the pollen
from the orange-blossoms to several cucumber flowers.
The first appearance of the fruit was the same as that of an
ordinary infant cucumber, but as the fruit grew, the result
of the inoculation became apparent. The cucumber, instead
of lengthening out, remained round like an orange, with the
orange-bloom scar, but the skin was that of a cucumber, with
the same corruptions. When ripened the new product assumed a
bright orange color, and from a distance appeared the same as
an orange.
With the seeds from the best specimens Mr. Hill is growing
a number of vines and thinks that the new fruit will become
established and prove a favorite, as the taste of the orange
and cucumber blend in an excellent manner and make a pleasing
combination.
(3326)