THE CHOCHO.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43099, 1 June 1907, Page 4

THE CHOCHO.

The cultivation of the Cbayote, or, as it is usually called, the cbocha, in Southern Queensland, is adding a very serviceable vegetable to the market, and also to the table dietary says the Brisbane corrspondent of Dalgeiy’s Review. It is 'tow, grown in large quantities, and probably will soon be among the exports to other States. It has all the fine flavour of the marrows, and, when, dished, up in a edmilar manner to them;, it is a most pleasant and) tasty vegetable. It is pear-shaped, and! varies in Colour from) a greenish yellow to a creamy white, and its firm shelly outer coat prevents it from being easily bruised or injured in its transmission to the market. A native of Mexico and the West Indies, where it grows in bush abundance, and is often used as food for the stock), it was introduced into Queensland by the Brisbane Acclimatisation Society some years ago, and has gradually won its way into favour, being now grown as a vegetable in many of the private and market gardens around! the city; and on the Blajdkall Ranges it is much cultivated where it is also used for feeding pigs, cattle, and horses. It is propagated by planting one of the chochos in good rich soil and where there is a) good supply of water. Very quickly the seed in the centre of the pulpy substance of the vegetable germinates and sprouts from the cotyledon and extends itself in a long creeping vine. A framework is soon covered, and one vine will sometimes bear as many as three hundred chochos in a season. The retail price is often 9d to Is per dozen. No sign® of disease have as yet appeared on the vines, neither is the vegetable yet attacked by any insect or 'fungus pest®. It seem® immune to the ordinary destructive banes of the gardener, and grows luxuriantly, and when studded with its glistening pear-like fruitage it make® a comely show. :