THE COUNTRY HOME [CHAPTER 
north as New Hampshire and Vermont. One of 
these goes by several different names, such as the 
Italian, or the Sicilian, according to the dealer’s 
fancy. It is yellow-fleshed, with yellow seeds, and 
it is a long keeper. I have eaten very good ones 
on Christmas day. Cole’s Early is one of the 
varieties that will mature in nearly every state. It 
is a first-class melon, with flesh of a deep red color, 
and a thin rind, very sweet in flavor and very pro- 
lific. The melons are not large, are nearly round 
in shape, and dark green, with lighter stripes. The 
muskmelon needs rich soil, and the hills should be 
slightly elevated — to prevent protracted rains rot- 
ting off the vines. Whatever you may say of Little 
Gem, Jenny Lind, and Paul Rose, bought at a 
grocery store or fruit stand, they are never so fine 
as the home-made article. A few thoroughly good 
sorts for general culture are Rocky Ford, Paul 
Rose, Columbus, Princess, Osage, and Little Gem, 
with Early Hackensack and Jenny Lind for very 
early sorts. If you wish but three sorts, take Net- 
ted Gem, Princess, and Osage. Miller’s Cream is 
a cross between two of the best older sorts, and if 
it would mature a little earlier, might be taken in 
place of all the rest. The flesh is of a rich salmon 
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