20 MASSACHUSETTS HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ones by the sound they give when rapped upon. Green water- 

 melons sound hard and solid, while a ripe one has a dull, hollow 

 sound, but this is one of the things that must be learned by practice. 

 The varieties of melons are almost endless, but the following are 

 a few of the most popular sorts. 



MUSKMELONS. 



Casdba. A very large, deeply ribbed and oblong shaped melon. 

 The flesh is greenish colored, very sweet, and of superior flavor. It 

 is the best muskmelon I have ever raised. I consider it worthy of 

 general cultivation. 



Ward's Nectar. This is a small round melon. It is very sweet 

 and of delicious flavor. 



Yellow Cantaloupe. A medium sized, round melon. The out- 

 side is 3'ellow and slightly ribbed, while the flesh is salmon colored 

 and has more of the peculiar musk flavor than most kinds. It is 

 quite early. 



Green Citron. This is a round melon, deeply netted with green ; 

 flesh of rich, delicious flavor. 



SiWs Hybrid is a very early and sweet melon ; flesh salmon 

 colored and of excellent flavor. 



"Watermelons. 



Phinney's. This is an oblong shaped melon ; the outside is spot- 

 ted, but quite dark colored. It is very solid, and the seeds are 

 white excepting at the eye. The flesh is bright red, very sweet and 

 juicy, with a very thin rind. It is very productive and worthy of 

 general cultivation. 



Mountain Sweet is an old standard sort. It is long shaped, dark 

 green, with dark seeds. The flesh is sweet, solid, and delicious. 



Mountain Sprout is a large, long, striped variety, with drab 

 colored seeds. It is very productive and sweet. 



Black Spanish. This is a dark green, small, round melon, very 

 sugary ; it is recommended for private gardens. 



Sculptured Seeded Watermelon. A new variety from Japan. It 

 is round, dark green, and of medium size. The flesh is cream 

 colored and very sweet. The seeds are dark colored, with singular 

 marks on them, resembling Oriental characters. 



