MUSKMELONS 



63 



promising red-fleshed sort. It originated with Chauncy 

 P. Coy of Nebraska and probably resulted as a selection 

 from the same line that produced the Delmonico. It 

 was a medium sized melon, nearly globular in shape, 

 profusely netted and possessed a deep reddish orange 

 flesh. The name served to ensure the variety wide- 

 spread trial but after 1900 it was seldom offered. 



Barling's Molilalia. 



This is a variety which originated in Montana and 

 has been listed since 1922 by the State Nursery and 

 Seed Co. of Helena. It is an early variety reaching 

 maturity at Geneva 6 8 days earlier than Acme, in 

 season with Jenny Lind and 6 8 days later than Extra 

 Early Citron. The fruits most resemble Acme, although 

 they are smaller, somewhat less tapered at the base and 

 have more finely interlaced netting. 



Fruit moderately small, 6-6 1 ;; x 4 ] ;>-5 inches; weight 2-2 U 

 pounds. Shape oval, base occasionally somewhat protuberant, 

 apex even, blossom scar obscure; ribs slightly prominent, 1 ' •_> inches 

 broad at the medial; furrows moderately shallow and smooth. 

 Netting moderately abundant, rather finely interlaced; cork heavy, 

 uniformly distributed over the ribs, base and apex. Skin color 

 dull orange sparsely mottled with green. Flesh light green blend- 

 ing to nearly white at cavity, thin, 7 *-l inch; texture medium coarse, 

 fibrous, rather firm and juicy: sweet, highly flavored, very spicy and 

 mildly aromatic; quality fair to good. Cavity medium large, 

 4x2 inches, circular in cross-section. Rind medium thick, '4 inch, 

 medium and strong. 



Bay View. Refs. 23, 25, 26, 28, 39, 45, 46, 49, 53, 69, 

 88, 90, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 105, 106, 

 107, 108, 112, 124, 133, 136, 139, 140, 142, 144. 

 Syns. Bayview Hybrid, Giant of Colorado, Home 

 Sweet Home, Sweet Home. 

 Bay View is an old variety w : hich was long celebrated 

 as the largest and longest green -fleshed melon in existence. 

 Introduced by W. Atlee Burpee & Co. in 1877, it had a 

 long career, having been offered by that concern con- 

 tinuously until 1922. It was reputedly the hybrid of 

 Casaba and a large California muskmelon, but its char- 

 acteristics would not lead one to suspect such parentage. 

 Johnson & Stokes in 1899 and the Gurney Seed & 

 Nursery Co., of Yankton, South Dakota, in 1912 listed 

 Giant of Colorado which seemed to very closely resemble 

 the older Bay View. 



It is a late variety at Geneva, maturing about a 

 week later than Bender's Surprise, 10 days later than 

 Long Yellow and in season with Banana and Giant. In 

 shape it most resembles Long Yellow, but differs in 

 flesh color and is more completely netted than that 

 variety. 



Plant vigorous; vines coarse and heavy; branches many. 



Fruit very large, 10-12 x 5}>-6 inches; weight 7-8 pounds, 

 often 10-12 pounds when grown under ideal conditions. Shape 

 oblong, apex rounded; base somewhat tapering and extended; ribs 

 prominent, l 3 4-2 inches broad at the medial; furrows broad, deep 

 and smooth, extending from base to apex. Netting medium in 

 amount, rather coarsely interlaced, often streaked; cork coarse and 

 heavy, distributed moderately uniform over the ribs; interstices 

 moderately deep. Skin color tawny to yellowish brown. Flesh 

 light green, often with a yellowish tint at full maturity, medium 

 thick, l'-il^ inches; texture rather coarse, moderately firm, 

 somewhat juicy, rather fibrous; slightly sweet, poorly flavored, mild 

 aroma; quality moderately poor. Cavity very large, 7-8 x 2}^-2j-£ 



inches, circular in cross-section. Rind thick, >.| inch, rather weak 

 and tender. 



Bender. Refs. 15, 36, 54, 58, 64, 65, 75, 78, 79, 82, 105, 

 109, 121, 129, 143. Syns. Bender's Surprise, 

 Big Bender, Dee-light, Harute, Juicy Fruit. 



The Bender melon has come to be the leading variety 

 in New York State grown for local market, roadside sale 

 and, with the advent of shipment by truck, for short haul 

 shipment. Charles Bender, who, on a farm within sight 

 of the Helderberg Mountain ridge, in the Albany, New 

 York, section, began growing melons in 1884 and in 

 1900 developed the variety now known as the Bender. 

 This variety, which in many ways is similar to Surprise, 

 Irondequoit and Tip Top, represents a long period of 

 selection with these varieties as a basis. The seed 

 strains which are available today, some sold by seeds- 

 men and others by private growers who have made 

 a specialty of melons, produce lines which vary some- 

 what according to the individual conception of the 

 variety type. The number of variety names and strains 

 for this large-fruited type delayed the distribution of this 

 particular name but the Joseph Harris Seed Co. offered 

 it in 1917 as a superior strain of Surprise. 



The variety is included among the midseason sorts 

 at Geneva, maturing about a week later than Delicious, 

 in season with Irondequoit and 10 or 12 days earlier than 

 Montreal Market. It most resembles Irondequoit in 

 form, although it is larger than that variety, more 

 coarsely interlaced, has a much more prominent blossom 

 scar and is known to be a better keeper. Its similarity 

 to that variety has led many to believe the two are 

 synonymous. Well bred stocks of the two, however, 

 are distinct. 



Plant very vigorous; vines very coarse and heavy; branches 

 moderately many. 



Fruit very large, 8-9 x 7J4~8j2 inches; weight 6-8 pounds, occa- 

 sionally more. Shape very short oval, slightly enlarged at the base; 

 apex rounded, blossom scar large and very prominent; base rounded 

 and occasionally somewhat flattened; ribs prominent, 2 l i inches 

 broad at the medial; furrows broad, medium depth, smooth and 

 extend from base to apex; netting medium in amount, coarsely 

 interlaced; cork broad and heavy, distributed unevenly over the 

 ribs; interstices moderately deep; skin color grayish green, turning 

 creamy yellow I cream color) at maturity. Flesh orange; thick, 

 1 3 4~2 inches, uniform; texture rather soft, very juicy, slightly 

 coarse and fibrous; very sweet, rather highly flavored, aroma mild 

 and pleasant; general quality very good. Cavity very large, 

 5x4 inches; circular in cross-section. Rind very thick, 3 s inch, 

 and moderately strong. 



Bird. Refs. 4, 28, 46, 53, 91, 96, 98, 99, 100, 106, 111, 

 127, 133, 144. 

 The Bird cantaloupe was one of the first melons to 

 be developed in this country, its history having been 

 recorded in the Rural New Yorker for 1885. The 

 originator, F. E. Bird of Denver, Colorado, claimed for 

 his new melon extreme earliness, large size, fine flavor 

 and good keeping qualities. Seed which had been saved 

 from Green Montreal muskmelons grown in the garden 

 adjacent to a row of Bay View was planted and one 

 vine produced melons so different and outstanding that 

 seed was again saved. After several years testing seed 

 was supplied to Gregory, Burpee and other seedsmen 



