300 The Cucurbits 



" unquestionably the flat, dead sound emitted by a melon 

 when ' thumped ' is the readiest indication of ripeness, and 

 the one most universally depended on. If the resonance 

 is hollow, riiiging or musical, it is a certain proof of im- 

 maturity, 



" Frequently on turning the melon and exposing the un- 

 der side, the irregular white blotch formed where the 

 melon has rested on the ground afEords an indication of 

 maturity. When this begins to turn yellowish and becomes 

 rough, pimply or warty, with the surface sufficiently hard 

 to resist the finger-nail when scratched, it is usually a fair 

 sign of ripeness. 



" But there is one more test that is corroborative. After 

 the melon ' looks ' ripe and ' thumps ' ripe, if, on a steady 

 pressure of the upper side or ' top ' by the palm of the 

 hand, while the nielon lies on the ground, instead of resist- 

 ing solidly the interior appears to have a tendency to yield 

 — a ' givey ' sort of feeling, as it were — accompanied by a 

 crisp crackling, half heard, half felt, as the flesh parts 

 longitudinally in sections under the pressure, the melon 

 may be pulled with absolute confldence. It is certainly 

 ripe. This test should never be resorted to with melons 

 intended for shipment, as their carrying quality is neces- 

 sarily impaired thereby. 



" Yet all this, as stated, comes largely by instinct to the 

 expert, and it is rarely that one finds it necessary to 

 ' thump,' much less to "^ press,' a melon before deciding as 

 to its maturity." , 



Many of the small early watermelons may be grown 

 successfully in warm northern gardens. Fruits of superior 

 quality, and picked when in perfection, may be had freely 



