SEED-VESSELS WE EAT 245 



proper. The names are often used interchange- 

 ably. In California, which produces fine melons 

 for home and eastern markets from May to 

 December, the , term "canteloupe" is the one in 

 use for all varieties. 



The most famous variety in the United States, 

 east 'and west, is the Rocky Ford, named for a 

 town in Colorado, the centre of the district which 

 produced and distributed this unequalled strain 

 of the old "Netted Gem." Something in the soil 

 and situation of these Colorado melon fields 

 especially fits them to grow the sweetest, richest 

 melons yet placed on the market. The flesh is 

 thick and green, and finely netted outside. One 

 and a half pounds is the average size. This 

 variety exceeds others in yield of marketable 

 fruit in the wonderfully productive melon fields 

 of Colorado and California. 



Michigan has a favorite strain of the same old 

 variety. The Osage supplies near and distant 

 markets in the central northern states. The 

 Montreal Market, a Canadian strain, is a favorite 

 in the Northeast, and is grown even in California. 



The Cassaba, or pineapple canteloupe, is a 

 large, smooth-skinned, furrowed melon, with rich, 

 creamy flesh, flavored somewhat like a pineapple. 

 The chief distinction of this variety, and the sub- 



