182 CUCURBIT ACEOUS PLANTS. 



THE WATERMELON. 



Cucurbita citrullus. 



Plant running, the length varying from eight to twelve 

 feet ; leaves bluish-green, five-lobed, the lobes rounded at the 

 ends ; flowers pale yellow, about an inch in diameter ; fruit 

 large, roundish or oblong, green, or variegated with different 

 shades of green ; seeds oval, flattened, half an inch long, five 

 sixteenths of an inch broad, the color varying according 

 to the variety, being either red, white, black, yellowish or 

 grayish brown. An ounce contains from a hundred and 

 seventy-five to two hundred seeds, and they retain their 

 vitality eight years. 



The Watermelon is more vigorous in its habit than 

 the Muskmelon, and requires more space in cultivation ; the 

 hills being usually made eight feet apart in each direction. 

 It is less liable to injury from insects, and the crop is conse- 

 quently much more certain. The seed should not be planted 

 till May, or before established warm weather ; and but two 

 good plants allowed to a hill. 



The varieties are as follow : 



Apple- A rather small, nearly round sort, deriving 



its name from its small, peculiar seeds, which, 

 in form, size, and color, are somewhat similar to those of 

 the apple. Skin deep, clear green ; rind very thin ; flesh 

 bright red to the centre, sweet, tender, and well-flavored. 

 It is hardy, bears abundantly, seldom fails to ripen per- 

 fectly in the shortest seasons, and keeps a long time after 

 being gathered. 



Black Fruit of large size, roundish or oblong, gen- 



SPANISH. ' erally more or less distinctly ribbed ; skin very 



dark or blackish green ; rind half an inch thick ; flesh deep 



