CUCURBITACE^. 



141 



lobes, ruugli, huirv. :\ *) 5 iuclies loug. Kluwers jixillary, <»ii sh<.rt stalks, 

 velluw. Fruit globose, from 3 to 12 inilies in diameter, f;«;nerally ridged aud 

 furrowed, sometimes much Hattened at the jxdes, while in some varieties it is 

 much elongated, forming a short cylinder, or oval. Seeds yellowish-white, 

 oblauceolate, Hattened ; about a thousand to an ounce ; when kept in a uni- 

 form temperature they retain their germinating jiroperties about ten years. 

 Flowers in June. Fruits in August. 



There are many species, and ;vs it sports freely, very many varieties are 

 under cultivation. The leading varieties in America are ; — 

 The Beech wood, an early variety, Hesh sugary. 

 The Black-Rock, large-fruited, very sweet. 

 The Citron, rich, juicy, aud sugary. 

 The Larije-ribhed , very large, oval in form, flesh sweet. 

 The Nutineij, delicious in flavor, and popular. 



Geo(jra/)hi/. — The muskmelon grows to perfection in rich, sandy soil, in all 

 the countries of the Levant, on the shores of the Mediterranean, in India, 

 China, Japan, and in fact 

 in all tropical and sub- 

 tropical countries through- 

 out the world. It is a 

 very important crop on 

 the southern plains of 

 New Jersey and through- 

 out the Middle and South- 

 ern States. 



Etymologf^. — Melo, the 

 specific name, is from the 

 (Jreek fiT]Kov, an apple, 

 hence an apple-shaped 

 fruit. Latin nn^lo, a melon. 

 Melon, the popular name, 

 is a corruption of the same 



word, or rather an Anglicizing of the Greek word. Mn<^hnelon is due to the 

 peculiar ar.jina shed by some of the varieties, Avhich has fancifully been com 

 pared to the odor of 'musk. Cantaloupe arose from the circumstance that 

 one of the varieties was cultivated or originated at a country-seat of the Tope, 

 called C'antalouppi. 



J/ iston/.— The muskmelon or Cucumis melo, is indigenous to British India 

 and Baluchistan. It has also been found wild in western iVfrica, in Guinea, 

 aud along the banks of the Niger. 



It was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians, but how early there is n > means 

 of knowing. It was also known to the Greeks and Romans at an early period 

 ' in history ,"brought either from the East by c(Mnmerce or travel or introduced 

 from Africa. 



^V. — The muskmelcm is the richest and most juicy fruit of all the pep., 

 familv. In the Atlantic States it is the favorite first course at breakfast, and 

 is highly esteemed as a dessert. The rinds are jireserved in ginger syrup as 

 a sweetmeat, and also brandieil. 



The following anecdote is told of Frederick tli.- Great, who w:i.s e.xtrava- 

 gantly fond of a small Egyptian melon, whidi lie i-aused to be cultivated in his 

 grounds. He one dav called his j.hvsician to treat him for an attack of in.li 

 gestion. The doctor, aware of the king's fondness for the melon, inferred tliat 



Cucumis melo (Muskmelon). 



