126 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



only giving me the advantage of their own experience and 

 data, but in giving addresses of manv persons whom they 

 believed might assist me. 



It has been interesting in accumnlatinor this data to sfet the 

 ideas of growers as regards the development of this fruit. 

 Some seem to tliink there is nothing grown to-day that begins 

 to compare with the olden-time varieties, while others see 

 vast improvements. 



All authorities seem to agree that the muskmelon doubtless 

 originated in the orient, and even to-day it forms a staple arti- 

 cle among the peoples of Persia, Ital}-, and Egypt. 



The muskmelon is very easily susceptible of mixing where 

 varieties are adjacent, and through this means many strains 

 and types have been brought out. The evolution of the cul- 

 tivated American muskmelon is interesting. One writer 

 claims that Columbus brought the first seed to this countr}-. 

 There are very few instances on record of direct introduction 

 of varieties in earlier times. In recent 3'ears the United 

 States Department of Agriculture has introduced many, 

 which may have a marked influence in the future. The 

 famous Cassaba or Persian variety is said to have been intro- 

 duced directly from Sm^'rna to the light soils of lower New^ 

 Jersey, where it has flourished and become noted for its 

 sweetness and fine flavor. It is believed that most of our 

 thin-skinned, finely netted, and highly flavored varieties are 

 of Persian origin. The rougher or hard-skinned varieties, 

 like those so commonl}- grown in France, Italy, and other 

 European countries, and known in this country' as canta- 

 loupes or rock melons, may have had a similar origin but 

 have been developed ditierently. 



The muskmelon most commonly known to America is, we 

 believe, of the Persian type. While some cantaloupes are 

 growai, and there are now and then varieties showing the 

 cantaloupe characteristics, they nevertheless do not meet with 

 as great success. 



There has been more attention given to breeding the musk- 

 melon during the past ten ^ears than ever before. While 



