Acorn. Giraumon Turban. Turk's-cap. Cucurbita piliformis.
Plant running; leaves small, soft, slightly lobed on the borders; fruit rounded, flattened, expanding about the stem to a broad, plain, brick-red surface, of ten or twelve inches in diameter. At the blossom-end, the fruit suddenly contracts to an irregular, cone-like point, or termination, of a greenish color, striped with white; and thus, in form and color, somewhat resembles a turban: whence the name. Flesh orange-yellow, thick, fine-grained, sugary, and well flavored; seeds white, comparatively short, and small.
The Turban Squash is not early, and should have the advantage of the whole season. "Its specific gravity is said to exceed that of any other variety. Its keeping properties are not particularly good; but its flavor, when grown on light, dry soil, will compare well with either the Autumnal Marrow or the Hubbard." It mixes very readily when grown in the vicinity of other varieties, is not an abundant bearer, and cannot be recommended for general cultivation.
Dr. Harris states that "this variety—sometimes called the 'Acorn Squash,' because, when the fruit is small, it resembles somewhat an acorn in its cup—seems to be the Cucurbita piliformis of Duchesne;" and he further adds, that "it sometimes grows to a large size, measuring fourteen or fifteen inches in transverse diameter, and looks like an immense Turkish turban in shape. Specimens raised in my garden in 1851 were little more than ten inches in diameter, and weighed ten pounds or more; having very thick and firm flesh, and but a small cavity within. They proved excellent for table use,—equal in quality to the best Autumnal Marrows. They keep quite as well as the latter."
Valparaiso.
Porter's Valparaiso. Commodore Porter.
Plant running; leaves large, not lobed, but cut in rounded angles on the borders; fruit oval, about sixteen inches in length, ten or eleven inches in diameter, slightly ribbed, and largest at the blossom-end, which often terminates in a wart-like excrescence; skin cream-white, sometimes smooth and polished, but often more or less reticulated, or netted; flesh comparatively thick, orange-yellow, generally dry, sweet, and well flavored, but sometimes fibrous and watery; seeds rather large, nankeen-yellow, smooth and glossy.
The variety requires the whole season for its perfection. It hybridizes readily with the Autumnal Marrow and kindred sorts, and is kept pure with considerable difficulty. It is in use from September to spring. The variety, if obtained in its purity, will be found of comparative excellence, and well deserving of cultivation. Stripes and clouds of green upon the surface are infallible evidences of mixture and deterioration.
The late Dr. Harris, in a communication to the "Pennsylvania Farm Journal," remarks as follows: "The Valparaiso squashes (of which there seem to be several varieties, known to cultivators by many different names, some of them merely local in their application) belong to a peculiar group of the genus Cucurbita, the distinguishing characters of which have not been fully described by botanists. The word 'squash,' as applied to these fruits, is a misnomer, as may be shown hereafter. It would be well to drop it entirely, and to call the fruits of this group 'pompions,' 'pumpkins,' or 'potirons.' It is my belief, that they were originally indigenous to the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the western coast of America. They are extensively cultivated from Chili to California, and also in the West Indies; whence enormous specimens are sometimes brought to the Atlantic States. How much soever these Valparaiso pumpkins may differ in form, size, color, and quality, they all agree in certain peculiarities that are found in no other species or varieties of Cucurbita. Their leaves are never deeply lobed like those of other pumpkins and squashes, but are more or less five-angled, or almost rounded and heart-shaped, at base: they are also softer than those of other pumpkins and squashes. The summit, or blossom-end, of the fruit has a nipple-like projection upon it, consisting of the permanent fleshy style. The fruit-stalk is short, nearly cylindrical, never deeply five-furrowed, but merely longitudinally striated or wrinkled, and never clavated, or enlarged with projecting angles, next to the fruit. With few exceptions, they contain four or five double rows of seeds. To this group belong Mr. Ives's Autumnal Marrow Squash (or Pumpkin); Commodore Porter's Valparaiso Squash (Pumpkin); the so-called Mammoth Pumpkin, or Cucurbita maxima of the botanists; the Turban or Acorn Squash; Cucurbita piliformis of Duchesne; the Cashew Pumpkin; Stetson's Hybrid, called the 'Wilder Squash;' with various others."
Vegetable Marrow. Thomp.