THE COUNTRY HOME [chapter 



north as New Hampshire and Vermont. One of 

 these goes by several different names, such as the 

 Italian, or the Sicilian, according to the dealer's 

 fancy. It is yellow-fleshed, with yellow seeds, and 

 it is a long keeper. I have eaten very good ones 

 on Christmas day. Cole's Early is one of the 

 varieties that will mature in nearly every state. It 

 is a first-class melon, with flesh of a deep red color, 

 and a thin rind, very sweet in flavor and very pro- 

 lific. The melons are not large, are nearly round 

 in shape, and dark green, with lighter stripes. The 

 muskmelon needs rich soil, and the hills should be 

 slightly elevated — to prevent protracted rains rot- 

 ting off the vines. Whatever you may say of Little 

 Gem, Jenny Lind, and Paul Rose, bought at a 

 grocery store or fruit stand, they are never so fine 

 as the home-made article. A few thoroughly good 

 sorts for general culture are Rocky Ford, Paul 

 Rose, Columbus, Princess, Osage, and Little Gem, 

 with Early Hackensack and Jenny Lind for very 

 early sorts. If you wish but three sorts, take Net- 

 ted Gem, Princess, and Osage. Miller's Cream is 

 a cross between two of the best older sorts, and if 

 it would mature a little earlier, might be taken in 

 place of all the rest. The flesh is of a rich salmon 



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