434 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



flattened, with ribs faintly marked. The flesh is .red, deep, juicy, 

 very sugary, and of a very pleasant flavour. Grown on a hot-bed, 

 it ripens in average seasons in the second half of August. 



Very Early Seikon 

 Water-Melon. A 

 variety introduced from 

 Japan, of remarkable 

 earliness, owing to which 

 it ripens better in the 

 climate of Paris than most 

 Water-Melons, which, as 

 grown in the north of 

 France, are generally poor 

 in flavour. It has a rather 

 short stem, and deeply 

 cut leaf, quite distinct, 

 and wilting readily. The 

 fruit is almost spherical, 

 slightly flattened at the 



Seikon Water-Melon. ends; the colour dark 



green, with sometimes 



faintly black streaks. The tlesh is red, and the se^ds are black. 

 Red-fleshed and Red-seeded Water-Melon. A very early 

 Water-Melon. The fruit is slightly oblong, olive-green, and about 

 7 or 8 in. in length, and about 4 in. in diameter, weighing two to 

 four pounds. It is a productive and well-shaped variety from Pro- 

 vence, early enough to ripen well in the climate of Paris. The flesh 

 is melting, very juicy, 

 delicately perfumed, and a 

 fine bright red. 



Black-seeded Water- 

 Melon. Fruit oblong, 20 

 in. to 2 ft. long and 12 to 

 14 in. in diameter ; skin 

 smooth, dark green ; flesh 

 red, very melting, slightly 

 sweet, and filling the whole 

 of the fruit ; seed varying 

 from dark red to black. 

 This variety is most 

 usually eaten raw, and, 

 along with its sub-varieties, 

 is the kind most com- 

 monly grown on all the shores of the Mediterranean. 



The Helopa Water-Melon is a vigorous plant, with very large, 

 spherical, or slightly flattened fruit ; skin thin, pale green, marbled 



Black-seeded Water-Melon ( natural size). 



