2o6 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



in the Boston market. In 1749, Kalm ' found at Quebec melons abounding and always 

 eaten with sugar. In 1540, Lopez de Gomara,^ in the expedition to New Mexico, makes 

 several mentions of melons. In 1542, the army of the Viceroy of Mexico sent to Cibolo 

 found the melon already there. In 1583, Antonis de Espejo found melons ctdtivated 

 by the Choctaw Indians. In 1744, the melon is mentioned as cultivated by the Coco 

 Maricopas Indians by Father Sedelmayer, and melons are mentioned on the Colorado 

 River by Vinegas, 1758. In 1565, melons are reported by Benzoni ' as abounding in Hayti, 

 but melon seeds appear not to have been planted in the Bermudas until 1609.* 



Muskmelons are said to have been grown in Virginia in 1609 * and are again mentioned 

 in 1848.* In 1609, melons are mentioned by Hudson ' as found on the Hudson River. 

 Muskmelons are mentioned by Master Graves * in his letter of 1629 as aboimding in New 

 England and again by Wm. Woods/ 1629-33. According to Hilton's Relation,^" musk- 

 melons were cultivated by the Florida Indians prior to 1664. In 1673 the melon is said 

 to have been cultivated by the Indians of Illinois, and Father Marquette " pronotmced 

 them excellent, especially those with a red seed. In 1822, Woods '^ says: " There are many 

 sorts of sweet melons, and much difference in size in the various kinds. I have only noticed 

 musk, of a large size, and nutmeg, a smaller one; and a small, pale colored melon of a rich 

 taste, but there are other sorts with which I am unacquainted." In 1683, some melon 

 seeds were sown by the Spaniards on the Island of California. The Indians about Phila- 

 delphia grew melons preceding 1748, according to Kalm." In Brazil, melons are mentioned 

 by Nieuhoff," 1647, and by Father Angelo," 1666. 



In various parts of Africa, as in Senegal and Abeokuta, and in China, the seeds are 

 collected and an oil expressed which is used for food and other ptuposes and is also 

 exported. In i860, the production in Senegal was 62,266 kilos., and a considerable 

 amount was shipped from Chefoo, China, in 1875. During the Civil War many farmers 

 in the southern states made molasses and sugar from muskmelons and cantaloupes. In 

 Kentucky, an occasional experiment has been made in converting a surplusage of melons 

 into syrups with considerable success. 



' Kalm, P. Trav. No. Amer. 2:324. 1772. 



' Pacific R.R.Rpt.y.iii. 1 856. 



' Benzoni Hist. New World Hakl. Soc. Ed. 91. 1857. 



* Newes from Barmudas 20. 1613. Force Coll. Tracts 3: No. 3. 1844. 



' True Decl. Va. London 13. 1610. Force Coll. Tracts 3: No. 3. 1844. 



'New Desc. Va. Mass. Hist. Coll. 19:122. 1832. 



''N. Y. Agr. Soc. Trans. 359. 1850. 



Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. ist Ser. 1:124. 1806. Reprint of 1792. 



'Woods, W. New Eng. Pros p. Prince Soc. Ed. 15. 1865. 

 " Hilton Rel. Fla. 8. 1664-68. Force Coll. Tracts 4: No. 2. 1846. 

 " Marquette, Fr. Trans. III. Hort. Soc. 125. 1876. 

 "Woods, J. III. Country 226. 1822. 

 " Watson Annals Phil. 442. 1856. . 

 " Churchill CoW. 7oy. 2:132. 1732. 

 "Churchill Co//. Foy. 1:489. 1744. 



