562 THE WATER-MELON. 



growth, and the fruit is very large, smooth, and green, with a red or yel- 

 low core. Though far inferior to the Melon in richness, its abundant 

 cooling juice renders it very grateful and refreshing in our hot midsum- 

 mer days. Immense fields of the Water-melon are raised, and their cul- 

 ture is very easy throughout all the Middle and Southern States. 



The cultivation of the Water-melon is precisely similar to that of the 

 melon, except that the hills must be eight feet apart. The finest crops 

 we have ever seen were grown upon old pieces of rich meadow land, 

 the sod well turned under with the plough at the last of April, and the 

 melons planted at once. 



The following are its best varieties : 



APPLE-SEEDED. 



Medium roundish, slightly oval, dark rich green. Bind thin. Flesh 

 scarlet, crisp, sweet, and very good. Early and prolific. Seeds very 

 small, dull reddish brown. A nice little melon, but only desirable for 

 the amateur. 



BAUGH. 



Received from Kentucky. 



fruit large, long oval, pale green. Flesh red, nearly solid, juicy, 

 sweet. Rind thin. Rather early. Seeds reddish. 



BLACK SPANISH. 



A rich and very excellent Water-melon. 



Fruit large, roundish oblong. Skin very dark, blackish green, 

 slightly marbled. Rind moderately thick. Flesh red, solid, rich, and 

 very sweet. A late variety. 



BRADFORD. 



Originated in South Carolina. 



Fruit large, oblong. Skin usually dark green, with gray longitudinal 

 stripes, mottled and streaked with green. Rind half an inch thick. 

 Flesh red to the centre, with a fine sugary flavor, of the best quality. 



CAROLINA. 



The large common variety. 



Fruit very large, oblong. Skin dark green and white marbled. Rind 

 thick. Flesh deep red, hollow at the centre, sweet and good. Seeds large, 

 black. 



There is also a sub-variety, with pale yellow flesh and white seeds. 



CLARENDON. 



Origin, Clarendon District, South Carolina. 



Large, oblong. Skin mottled gray, with dark-green longitudinal 

 stripes. Rind half an inch thick. Flesh scarlet to the centre, with a 

 sugary and exquisite flavor, " best " quality. Seeds yellow, with a black 



