PERSIAN MELONS. 181 



A fruit of regular figure and handsome ap- Melon of 

 pearance, seven inches long by five inches wide. 

 Shape ovate, with a small mamelon at the apex ; surface 

 pale dusky yellow, regularly and closely netted, except the 

 mamelon, which is but little marked ; rind very thin ; flesh 

 from an inch and a half to two inches thick, pale green, 

 sometimes becoming reddish towards the inside, exceedingly 

 tender and juicy ; juice sweet, and delicately perfumed. A 

 good bearer, but requires a long season. Named from 

 Seen, a village near Ispahan ; where the variety was 

 procured. 



This ripens about a week earlier than the Small Ger- 



mek. Trans. 

 Large (jrermek, but is not so valuable a fruit. 



In form it is a depressed sphere, with about eight rounded 

 ribs. It measures four inches in depth by four inches and a 

 half in width. The skin is even, yellowish, with a little 

 green about the interstices, obscurely netted ; the flesh is 

 green, inclining to reddish in the inside, an inch and a half 

 thick, juicy, and high flavored ; skin very thin. The pulp 

 in which the seeds are immersed is reddish. It is not a 

 great bearer, and the vines are tender. 



Fruit oval and much netted, dark green in Striped Hoo- 



samee. Trans. 

 broad stripes, with narrow intervals of dull 



white, which become faintly yellow as the fruit ripens ; pulp 

 externally green, but more internally pale red, excessively 

 juicy, and more perfectly melting than that of the famous 

 Ispahan Melon. 



It is sweeter and higher flavored than any other Per- 

 sian variety, but requires a long, warm season for its full 

 perfection. 



16 



