cantaloupe". 231 



delphia market, such as the Carolina, Spanish, Long 

 Green, Mountain Sweet, etc. These have all red pulp, 

 and the last-named is much superior to the others. There 

 are other varieties with yellow or light-colored pulp. 



Cantaloupe. — These come to great perfection in the 

 open air throughout the Southern and Middle States, 

 wherever the soil is favorable. The light sandy allu- 

 vials of New Jersey are very favorable to their growth. 

 There are many varieties, no less than fourteen of 

 which, the best known in England, will be found enu- 

 merated under the head of Melon^ in the portion of this 

 treatise relating to the operations of the forcing garden. 



The old-fashioned Blush-melon, with its smooth and 

 yellow rind, slightly ribbed, although once very exten- 

 sively cultivated, has given place to the better-flavored 

 Nutmeg^ Cantaloupe, and HocJc-melon, with rough rind 

 and greener and firmer flesh, and the Netted Citron. 

 This last, which derives its name from the raised net- 

 like appearance on its outer surface, is of an oval form. 

 When well grown, specimens will often weigh from two 

 to five pounds. The -flesh is of a greenish color, firm, 

 yet juicy, and high flavored. When in its greatest 

 purity and perfection, it is considered the best melon of 

 its kind. 



The seed of the Cantaloupe are usually planted about 

 thefirstof May, when the spring frosts are no longer to be 

 apprehended, in hills or beds, about six feet apart each 

 way. In preparing the hills, the most approved way 

 is to dig out the earth about a foot deep and two wide, 

 and fill up the holes thus made with a compost consist- 

 ing of a mixture, in equal parts, of old well-rotted ma- 

 nure, sand, and good garden soil and street dirt, where 



