the melon. 561 



Large Musk Cantelope. 



An old and well-kiiowii variety, hardly worth growing except for 

 its size. 



Fruit large, long oval, deeply ribbed. Flesh thick, light salmon 

 color, sweet, jnicy. It is early and productive, and often used for mak- 

 ing mango pickles. 



Nutmeg. 



An old variety, often seen impure, but when in perfection very 

 melting and excellent. 



Fruit large, roundish oval. Skin very thickly netted, pale green, 

 slightly but distinctly ribbed. Rind rather thin. Flesh pale green, 

 very melting, sweet and good, with a high musky flavor. Medium sea- 

 son. 



Peksian. 



There are several sorts under this name. The best among them has 

 long oval-shaped fruit, with a thin and delicate skin, and tlesh quite 

 tender, juicy, rich, and sweet. Medium season. 



Pine-Apple. 



A dark-green oval Melon, of medium size, rough-netted. Flesh 

 thick, firm, j uicy, and sweet. 



Skillman's Fine Netted. 



Earliest of the green-fleshed Melons, small, rough-netted, flattened 

 at the ends. Flesh green, veiy thick, firm, sugary, and of the most deli- 

 cious flavor. 



White Japan. 



Compai'atively new. Originally from Japan. 



Fruit small to medium, ribbed, sometimes slightly netted, color 

 creamy white. Flesh thick, juicy, sweet, and well-flavored. 



Besides the foregoing there are Winter Melons from the So\ith of 

 Eui'ope, very commonly cultivated in Spain, which, if svispended in a 

 dry room, may be kept till winter. The Green, Valencia, and the 

 Dampsita are the three principal sorts ; they are oval, skin netted, flesh 

 white, sugary, and good. 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE WATER-MELON. 



CucurUta citriiUus, L. Cncurbitacem, of botanists. 

 Pasteur, of the French ; Wnsser Melone^ German ; Cocomero, Italian. 



The Water-melon is a very popular and generally cultivated fruit 

 in this country. The vine is a training annual of the most vigorous 



