MUSKMELON 347 



statement is often made that greenhouse melons cannot 

 be sold for less than $1 or perhaps $1.50 each and enable 

 the grower even to meet expenses. Such prices certainly 

 make melons class as a luxury and the demand for them 

 is necessarily limited. 



The melon, in its cultural requirements, is very similar 

 to the cucumber, though much more exacting. The in- 

 sect and fungous foes are also similar. 



House. A greenhouse which is suitable for the forcing 

 of cucumbers will be found satisfactory for growing 

 melons. It should be amply provided with heating pipes. 

 It should be high enough to give room for the training 

 of the plants. Inasmuch as the plants are extremely sen- 

 sitive to cold drafts and sudden changes in temperature, 

 small storm houses should be provided wherever there 

 are outside doors that must be used. Melons are gen- 

 erally grown on raised benches provided with bottom heat, 

 though the spring crop may be grown with entire success 

 in solid ground beds. Some growers prefer boxes which 

 may be placed on raised benches. A box 3^ feet long, 

 12 inches wide and 8 inches deep will hold three plants. 



Varieties. There are numerous English varieties and 

 several American sorts that do well under glass. Among 

 those which are most frequently mentioned are Sutton's 

 Emerald Gem, Royal Jubilee, Superlative and Ring- 

 leader. There are three classes of melons according to 

 color of flesh, namely, green-fleshed, scarlet-fleshed and 

 white-fleshed. The green-fleshed sorts are considered 

 the best in quality by some, and the scarlet-fleshed by 

 others. Turner, in "Fruits and Vegetables Under 

 Glass," makes the following classification : Green Flesh : 

 Sutton's Ringleader, Best of All, Perfection, Sutton's 

 Emerald Gem, Windsor Castle, Turner's Seedling, Royal 

 Jubilee, Emerald Gem (American strain) ; Scarlet Flesh : 

 Superlative, Sutton's Al, Sutton's Scarlet, Sutton's 

 Triumph and Sutton's Invincible; White Flesh: Royal 



