4 K. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 172 



melons which we had been previously growing outside on pre- 

 pared land. This may easily be accounted for owing to the 

 shortness of the growing season in our northern climate, as melons 

 do not mature and develop quality as they do further south in 

 the melon regions. 



In England the melon is very highly prized as a dessert fruit; 

 its cultivation is, however, limited to glass houses and frames, 

 and on many private estates greenhouses are erected for the sole 

 purpose of raising choice melons for the table; the melons being 

 supported under the roof of the house by means of a wire trellis. 

 These melon ranges are usually of a low and narrow form of con- 

 struction. 



We find that comparatively few melons are raised in the state 

 of New Hampshire, perhaps due to the fact that they do not 

 mature early enough and are picked from the vines long before 

 the ripening period and when served as a dessert fruit are lacking 

 in quality. The writer has had an opportunity to visit many 

 fairs and horticultural exhibitions in the state, and to observe 

 the quality of melons on display, and it is noticeable that the 

 average exhibitor errs oftentimes in sacrificing quality for size of 

 fruit. However, when size of fruits can be obtained without sac- 

 rificing quality, it creates interest in the exhibition hall and finds 

 a ready sale on the market. A few years ago smaller varieties 

 were in demand, today however we find well grown specimens of 

 the Montreal and other large types of melons increasing in popu- 

 larity. 



Taking into consideration this present market condition a large 

 melon Delices de la table was selected as one of the parents, and 

 Sutton^s Superlative, a medium sized melon as the other. Also 

 recognizing that these two varieties were practically pure this 

 cross furnished excellent material for our Mendelian studies. 



HISTORICAL. 



The melon (Cucumis Melo) is perhaps the richest and most 

 highly valued plant in the family Curcurbitaceae. Its native 

 habitat is the hotter parts of Asia and it is supposed to have been 

 introduced from there to Europe at the commencement of the 

 Christian era. In the Far East where melons grow plentifully 

 the fruit forms one of the chief articles of food for the inhabitants. 



