MELONS 



Melons are the fruits of Cucumis Melo, an annual, native of 

 some parts of tropical Asia and Africa. It has been cultivated 

 from a very remote period, and consequently has developed a 

 multitude of forms or varieties in the shape, size, and colour of 

 the fruits, and also in the thickness and flavour of the flesh, 

 which is usually very sweet and highly perfumed, and coloured 

 either green, white, or orange. The varieties usually come 

 fairly true from seeds, but to ensure this it is necessary to 

 prevent cross-fertilization by bees and to pollinate the flowers 

 artificially. Being tropical, the Melon can only be successfully 

 cultivated in England in a heated house or frame. The 

 varieties grown in this country are usually small -fruited, 

 spherical or egg-shaped, and thin-skinned. A well -grown, 

 properly-ripened fruit weighs from three to four pounds. 



TOMATOES 



Tomatoes, or Love Apples, are the fruit of Lycopersicum 

 esculentum^ a South American annual with long trailing stems. 

 Under cultivation and selection it has considerable variety in 

 the form, size, colour, and flavour of the fruit, and it is 

 remarkable that many of these varieties are reproduced by 

 means of seeds. Although cultivated in Europe for its fruits 

 for several centuries, the Tomato has only recently become 

 universally popular both as a dessert fruit and when cooked. 

 In some parts of England acres of glass are devoted to 

 the production of Tomatoes for the London market alone. 

 Large quantities are also imported from the Canary Islands, 

 Portugal, etc. The plant is too tender to be grown in Eng- 

 land without some protection, except for a period of about 

 four months in summer. Under liberal treatment each plant 

 will yield from eight to ten pounds of fruit. The size of the 

 fruit varies from four inches in diameter to the size of Cherries 

 (Cherry Tomato) and of Currants (Red Currant Tomato). 



