185 



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Watermelon. Citrullus vulgaris, SciiRAt). 



(CUCURBITACE^.), 



The watermelon was observed by Caesalpinius' in 1583, In a 

 seedless state, and this is quoted by Bauhin in 1596 and 1623, as 

 alss by J. Bauhin in 1651. I find no other recorded instance. 



In the above list of sixty-one species, we find quahty either 

 stated or inferred, in varying degrees, in the case of thirty-three ; 

 In the remaining twenty-eight either no, or insufficient, mention. It 

 is more than probable that in every case of high development, for 

 thus we class horticultural selections, the seed is changed in some 

 respect from the seed of the wild type, either recognizable In re- 

 duction of number, size, weight or fragility. In many instances, 

 such as the melon and tomato, the orange and the peach, and 

 many others, this is effected through corelations, the horticultur- 

 ist indifferent to the seed, but keen for the quality of juiciness, 

 tenderness and flavor, 

 tural effort, to experiment with seed from nearly seedless forms, or 

 with seed which is more fragile or seemingly imperfect, in the en- 

 deavor to produce increased quality, as also with seed from un- 

 ripe fruit. 



It seems a legitimate field for hortlcul- 



I Caesalpiniis, lib. 5, c. 5, p. 200. 



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