234 



Notes and Gleanhiss. 



Melons. — We continue our extracts from Burr's " Field and Garden " this 

 month, giving a valuable chapter on melons : — 



Carolijm. — Fruit of large size, and of an oblong form, usually somewhat 

 swollen towards the blossom-end ; skin deep green, variegated v/ith pale green or 

 white ; flesh deep red, not fine grained, but crisp, sweet, and of fair quality ; fruit 

 frequently hollow at the centre ; seeds black. This variety is extensively grown 



in the Southern States for exportation to the North, where it appears in the 

 markets about the beginning of August, and, to some extent, in July. Many of 

 the specimens are much less marked with stripes and variegations than the true 

 Carolina ; and some shipments consist almost entirely of fruit of a uniform deep- 

 green color, but of the form and quality of the Carolina. Downing mentions a 

 sub-variety with pale-yellow flesh and white seeds. 



Mountain Sweet. — A large, long, oval variety, often contracted towards 

 the stem in the form of a neck ; skin striped and marbled with different shades 

 of green ; rind rather thin, measuring scarcely half an inch in thickness ; flesh 

 scarlet, and solid quite to the centre ; seeds pale russet-brown, but often of great 

 depth of color in perfectly-matured specimens of the fruit. A |)opular and exten- 



sively-cultivated variety, quite hardy, productive, and of good quality. For many 

 years it was universally conceded to be the best market sort cultivated in the 

 Middle States, but of late has lost some of the properties that recommended it 

 so highly to favor. Its deterioration has probably been owing to the influence 

 of pollen from inferior kinds grown in its vicinity. 



