GREEN-FLESHED MELONS. 539 



the Persian melon, the finest of all, but yet scarce with us, re- 

 quiring much care in cultivation, and a fine warm season.* 



Class I. Green-Fleshed Melons. 



1. CITRON. This is much the finest melon for general cul- 

 ture. Fruit rather small, roundish, flattened at the end, regu- 

 larly ribbed and thickly netted ; skin deep green, becoming pale 

 greenish yellow at maturity ; rind moderately thick, flesh green, 

 firm, rich, and high flavored. Ripens pretty early and bears a 

 long time. 



2. NUTMEG. An old variety, often seen impure, but when in 

 perfection, very melting and excellent. Fruit as large again as 

 the foregoing, roundish oval ; skin very thickly netted, pale 

 green, slightly but distinctly ribbed ; rind rather thin, flesh pale 

 green, very melting, sweet and good, with a high musky flavour. 

 Medium season. 



3. FRANKLIN'S GREEN-FLESHED. Very excellent and pro- 

 ductive. Fruit rather large, roundish ; skin very slightly net- 

 ted, greenish yellow when ripe ; flesh green, exceedingly ten- 

 der and rich. 



4. IMPROVED GREEN-FLESH. A new English variety, of ex- 

 quisite flavour. Fruit pretty large, roundish, not ribbed, slight- 



* We hope to see the Persian melon more common in our gardens, 

 as its exquisite flavour richly repays the additional care it requires. 

 It almost always requires in this country the aid of a slight hot-bed to for- 

 ward the plants in the spring, and needs the use of the glass frequently 

 even in summer, during cold nights and stormy weather. The follow- 

 ing treatment will produce fine Persian melons in this latitude, and south 

 of this probably less care will be necessary. 



About the middle of April prepare a slight hot-bed, not more than three 

 feet wide, and as long as may be desired. Cover the manure of the hot- 

 bed with a mixture of two thirds fresh loamy soil taken from just below 

 the turf on the road sides, and one third sand, mixing with the whole 

 guano, or pigeon dung the best manure for the melon, at the rate of half a 

 peck of guano, or a peck of pigeon dung, to a bed ten feet long. Give the 

 plants as much air as possible, consistent with vigorous growth, till the last 

 of June taking off the sashes altogether during a few hours in the middle 

 of very warm bright days. All this time the soil must be kept pretty 

 moist by frequent watering, which should be applied on the surface of 

 the ground, and not over the leaves of the plants. 



After the first of July, if the summer is a warm one, the glass may be 

 taken off almost entirely during the day or only restored to it in cold 

 stormy weather, or in sudden changes of temperature. If the season should 

 not be as warm and fine as ordinary, the beds may be kept partially cov- 

 ered to ripen the fruit. It should be borne in mind that the Persian melon 

 requires a very dry, warm atmosphere, and a very moist soil. In Persia 

 the beds are irrigated by small streams of water running between them, and 

 when it is practicable this should be put in practice here, or otherwise the 

 soil should be regularly watered. It is best to lay some light branches over 

 the surface, on which to train the vines. 



