106 LUTHER BURBANK 



taloupe, has become exceedingly popular. The 

 variety of melon known as the Cassaba, which 

 matures later in the fall and has peculiar lus- 

 ciousness, is also much grown. This has been 

 introduced from the Syrian region in various 

 forms, and it thrives particularly in dry climates 

 like that in which it has grown for ages. It does 

 not thrive in the moist eastern climates, but is 

 better adapted to semiarid conditions. 



There are certain distinctive features of the 

 different cantaloupes and muskmelons to which 

 the gardener should give attention. The light- 

 fleshed ones should have light skins, and the 

 dark-fleshed ones dark skins. The network on 

 the skin is an important guide in seed selection, 

 as a fine, completely netted melon usually is of 

 better quality than one that is incompletely net- 

 ted. These two conditions seem generally cor- 

 related, though not necessarily so. The flesh of 

 the melon should be thick, and tender through- 

 out, except that for shipping purposes it is 

 sometimes desirable to have the flesh a little 

 harder toward the skin. 



The seed cavity should be small, and the seeds 

 should be in a compact mass, occupying a mini- 

 mum amount of space. 



Now and again one hears of attempts made to 

 grow seedless melons. A moment's reflection will 



