THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



MELONS. 



Melon (Cucuinis melo) is believed to be a native of the hotter parts of Asia, 

 and Lucullus is credited with its introduction to Rome from Armenia. It was 

 originally brought to this country from Jamaica, and has been cultivated in England 

 since 1570. The fruit forms one of the chief articles of food for the inhabitants in some 

 parts of the East. In this country it is highly valued for dessert and other purposes, 

 but it is a comparative luxury, inasmuch as glass structures and artificial heat are 

 essential to produce it in the highest perfection. 



The Cantaloup varieties were brought to Cantaluppi, near Borne, from Asia Minor. 

 Introduced into France in 1495, they passed from thence into Spain, and from that 

 country into England. In the Cantaloups we have both round and oblong, plain and 

 netted, and orange or green fleshed fruits. Early Cantaloup melon is still one of 

 the best for early use, the plant being hardier than many, and the fruit has a rich 

 scarlet flesh. Bromhall Hall combines the earliness, free bearing and good qualities of 

 early Cantaloup with a green flesh. 



The Eock varieties have been so changed by cross-fertilisation that their carbuncled 

 and thick rinds have given place to the small Scarlet-flesh melons represented in 

 Scarlet Gem, and the large Scarlet-flesh seen in Little Heath a hardier and better melon 

 than many of recent introduction. Coulommier's melon, so largely grown on the 

 Continent in the open air, is probably of the Cantaloup race, hardy, large fruited, and 

 long keeping ; choice varieties, seen in fruiterers' shops in late summer and autumn, are 

 the result, probably, of crossing with the Central Asia (Khiva and Afghan) varieties. 

 They do not thrive well in this country, and their quality is much below that of the 

 Cantaloup and Eock races. 



The Green-fleshed race seems to have been the most universally esteemed, for we find 

 VOL. in. B 



