VEGETABLES MELON. 167 



should be planted about the same time, and cultivated 

 in all respects the same as the Musk Melon, only that the 

 hills should not be less than 8 feet apart. It is gro'.vn in 

 immense quantities on the light sandy soils of New Jer- 

 sey, for the New York and Philadelphia markets, in which 

 it is said to give a profit of from $100 to $200 per acre. 

 But it is in the vicinity of our southern cities, Charleston, 

 Savannah, etc., where we have regular steamboat commu- 

 nication, that these tropical fruits can be grown at a high 

 rate of profit to the cultivator. 



Water Melons, grown in the vicinity of Charleston, in 

 July of this year, were sold by the thousand in New 

 York, to the consumer, at $1 each ; while those grown in 

 southern Jersey, in August or September, were a drug at 

 15 cents and 25 cents. The leading varieties are as fol- 

 lows : 



Mountain Sprout. An old and well-known variety, 

 and still the leading market sort. It is of the largest size, 

 longish oval; skin dark green, marbled with lighter 

 shades; red fleshed; of excellent quality. A greater 

 weight can be raised per acre of this than of any other 

 variety. 



Black Spanish. Fruit medium, almost round; skin dark 

 green ; flesh red ; sweet and delicious. It is a great favor- 

 ite in private gardens, and is claimed to be earlier than 

 he preceding. 



Ice Cream. A round white-fleshed variety of good 

 flavor, but not equal to the red-fleshed. It matures 10 

 days earlier, however, and on that account is worth culti- 

 vating in the Northern or Eastern States, where the sea- 

 son for the finer sorts is too short. 



