312 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



ripened; the flesh a full yellow, pretty high-flavour- 

 ed, but not very juicy. The plant is a good bearer. 



9. The Large Netted Romana. 

 This is an excellent melon. It is the largest of 

 the romanas, regularly netted all over, shallow fur- 

 rowed, oval, solid, and very ponderous. I have of- 

 ten had them nine or ten pounds in weight. The 

 rind is hard, pale yellow when fit to cut ; the flesh 

 a full yellow, but not very juicy j though the fruit 

 is very high-flavoured, if eaten sharp-ripe. The 

 plant is a better bearer than any other large sort I 

 know. 



10. Fair's Romana. 



This sort my father had from Mr Robert Fair, 

 seedsman (now in London,) when of the house of 

 Dicksons and Fair, Edinburgh, under the name of 

 " the Smooth Rock Cantelope ;" but it is evident- 

 ly a romana, and partakes nothing of the qualities 

 of the cantelope. 



It is much smaller than either of the above roma- 

 nas ; oval, smooth, solid, and ponderous ; the rind 

 hard, greenish-yellow when fit to cut, and the flesh 

 a pale yellow. It is not very juicy, but is very well 

 flavoured, and agreeable ; and it may be pared very 

 near to the rind (which is a good property), if well 

 matured. The plant is a very great bearer. 



I have often grown this sort in a flued-pit, for a 

 late crop ; have had eighteen or twenty full-sized 

 fruit in a light j and have had them as late as Oc- 



