AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



351 



Melon continued. 



fruits ; it is cultivated, almost without shelter, in the 

 open fields in Normandy, &c. The Embroidered Market 

 Melon (see Fig. 543), also a netted variety, bears a large 

 nearly spherical fruit, with orange, or reddish-orange 



FIG. 544. FIGARI MELON. 



flesh ; the ribs are not prominent. The Figari (see Fig. 

 544) is an ornamental and small-fruited Melon, probably 

 of African origin. Its obovoid fruits are scarcely as 

 large as a medium-sized hen's egg; they are smooth 

 and yellow when ripe, and exhale a very decided Melon 

 odour, but are not edible, being only cultivated for 



FIG. 545. PERSIAN MELON. 



ornament, garnishing, &c. The Persian Melon (see Fig. 

 545) has elongated pear-shaped fruits, of medium size, 

 without ribs, not, or only slightly, netted ; the rind is 

 yellow, marbled with dark green; the flesh is greenish- 

 white, and very sugary ; this sort keeps a long time. 



FIG. 546. QUEEN ANNE'S POCKET, OR DUDAIM, MELON. 



Queen Anne's Pocket, or Dudaim (see Fig. 546), does not 

 differ markedly in foliage and habit from ordinary Melons, 

 but its very small round fruits, marbled with brown on an 

 orange or orange-red ground, distinguish it at once from 

 all others ; it is probably of African origin. The fruits, 

 when ripe, have a very strong odour, but are not edible ; 

 they are only of use for garnishing and decorative purposes. 



FIG. 547. WINTER MELON. 



The Winter Melon (see Fig. 547) is the largest of the 

 white-fleshed kinds, but is also one of the least desirable. 

 The fruit is elliptic, more or less elongated, rarely sub- 

 spherical, with a smooth or faintly netted skin, and thick 

 flesh ; it varies much in size and colour, the latter ranging 

 from dark green to creamy-white or yellow. This sort is 

 cultivated in open fields in the South of Europe. 



Melon continued. 



Melons are usuaUy divided into two, and sometimes 

 into three, classes, according to the colour of their flesh 

 inside the skin. For all practical purposes, the two 

 under which the subjoined limited selection of varieties 

 are classed, are amongst the best in cultivation. Doubt- 

 less, there are very many others considered of equal or 

 superior merit, according to the views of different cul- 

 tivators and consumers of the fruit. 



Class I. Green and White-fleshed. 

 Cashmere (Meredith's). Fruit medium or large, oval, slightly 



ribbed; skin thin, yellow when ripe, not much netted, flesh 



nearly white, very juicy, and of excellent flavour. An old variety, 



but, when well grown, one of the best in cultivation. 

 Colston Bassett Seedling. Fruit slightly obovate ; skin yellow, 



beautifully netted; flesh whitish, melting, very juicy. 

 Eastnor Castle. Fruit medium or large, from 31b. to 41b. in 



weight ; skin pale yellow ; flesh melting, and very rich. A free 



grower and bearer ; one of the best, but does not keep long. 

 Gilbert's Green-fleshed. Fruit large, oval, greenish-yellow; 



flesh melting and juicy. 

 Golden Gem (Cox's). Fruit round, yellow, netted ; flesh whitish- 



green, of good flavour. 

 Golden Queen. Fruit medium, round ; skin thin, golden-yellow, 



beautifully netted ; flesh very juicy. Plant of a hardy constitu- 



tion. 

 Hero of Lockinge. Fruit medium ; skin rich golden-yellow, 



with white lacing ; flesh white, melting, of very fine flavour. An 



excellent variety, either for pits or houses. 

 Queen Emma. Flesh almost white, tender, and melting, with 



thin rind. A large, handsome, free-bearing variety, of strong 



constitution. 

 Victory of Bath (Gilbert's). Fruit large, slightly oval; skin 



greenish-yellow, not much netted ; flesh green, juicy, and richly 



flavoured. Plant of moderate growth. 



William Tillery. Fruit large, handsome ; skin dark green, thin ; 

 flesh pale green, juicy, sweet, and of excellent quality. One of 

 the best varieties if well grown. 



Class II. Scarlet-fleshed. 

 Blenheim Orange. Fruit medium or large, and of excellent 



flavour. Plant of good constitution, and remarkably prolific ; 



one of the best of this class. 

 Read's Scarlet -fleshed. Fruit medium size, beautifully 



netted, more oblong than Scarlet Gem ; flesh solid, and of good 



quality. An old but excellent sort. 



A constant, free-bearing 



arly ro 



variety, 



of excellent flavour. 



Scarlet Premier. Fruit handsome, slightly oval, highly 

 coloured and beautifully netted; flesh solid, thick, having a 

 delicate aroma. 



MELON, MUSK. See Cucurbita moschata. 

 MELON THISTLE. See Melocactus. 

 MELON, WATER. See Citrullns vulgaris. 

 MEMBRANOUS, MEMBRANACEOUS. Having 



the texture of a membrane. 



MEMECTLEJE. A tribe of Melastomacece. 



MEMECTLON (the Greek name used by Dioscorides 

 for the fruit of the Arbutus). SYN. Scutula. OBD. 

 Melastomacea. A genus consisting of about 100 species 

 of very glabrous trees and shrubs, inhabiting Asia, 

 Australia, the Pacific Islands, tropical Africa, and Ceylon, 

 many being found on the seashores. Flowers white or 

 bluish, frequently axillary, or springing from below the ' 

 leaves, or terminal, fasciculate, or in panicles. Leaves 

 sessile or shortly petiolate. Various dyes are extracted 

 from some of the Cingalese species. M. edule has 

 edible but astringent berries. The species are unknown 

 to cultivation in this country. 



MENINIA TURGIDA. A synonym of Cystacan- 

 thus turgida (which see). 



MENISCIUM (from meniskos, a crescent ; referring 

 to the shape of the spores). OED. Filices. A genus 

 comprising ten species of very distinct stove ferns, 

 almost confined to the tropics. Fronds simple or once 

 pinnate. Sori oblong or linear, occupying the conni- 

 vent transverse veinlets. The species generally do well 



