29 



in the color and size of the seeds and in the adaptability of the plant to varying soils 

 and condition. The feeding value of lentil forage is about equal to that of red 

 clover. It should be tried wherever crimson clover succeeds. 



2095. Cucumis melo. Winter muskmelon. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Olive d'hiver." "These melons are kept all the winter, and are very common in 

 Europe. Have not seen them in America." ( TV. T. Swingle.^ 



2096. Cucumis melo. Cantaloupe. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Algerian." Highly recommended. "A rather dense-growing plant with numerous ' 

 short branches. Leaves dark green, slightly cut, and very much folded at the edges, 

 which gives them the appearance of being five-lobed and almost funnel-shaped. 

 Fruit slightly elongated, sometimes spherical, bearing roundish warts or scabs, 

 which, together with the bottoms of the furrows, are of a very dark-green, almost 

 black color, contrasting strongly with the light silvery hue of the other parts of the 

 ribs. The dark-green parts finally change to an orange color, but this is not fully 

 developed until the fruit is overripe, so that it should be gathered before the change 

 takes place. The length of the fruit varies from 6 to 10 inches and the diameter 

 from 5 to 8 inches. The flesh is thick, juicy, perfumed, and always sweet. It ripens 

 half late; only one or two fruits on each plant. One of the most hardy summer 

 melons, perhaps surpassing all others in uniformly good quality." ( Vilmorin.) 



2097. Cucumis melo. Cantaloupe. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Early black rock." Early; easily cultivated. "Fruit nearly spherical, but 

 slightly flattened at the ends, with ribs clearly but not deeply marked; skm usually 

 smooth and without warts, very deep green, almost black, turning orange when ripe. 

 The flesh is orange colored, thick, sweet, perfumed, of excellent quality. The melons 

 are 5 to 6 inches long and 6 to 7 inches through. A plant may carry two melons for 

 the general crop. One of the best and most easily grown of the early melons." 

 (Vilmorin.) 



2098. Cucumis melo. Cantaloupe. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Prescott fond blanc de Paris or Large Paris white Prescott." The most generally 

 cultivated variety about Paris; said to be very good; attains a large size. "A vig- 

 orous grower. Fruit large, very much flattened at the ends; ribs broad, much 

 wrinkled, covered with knobs and protuberances of all shapes, and irregularly 

 variegated with dark and pale green on a whitish ground. The ribs are separated 

 by very deep, narrow furrows. Flesh orange, very thick, exceedingly fine- flavored, 

 juicy, and melting. The fruit is only 5 or 6 inches long, but is 6 to 12 inches thick. 

 A plant is generally allowed to carry only one melon, or rarely, two." (Vilmorin.) 

 Very good quality. " I saw small plants of ' Prescott fond blanc melon' yesterday. 

 They were growing in hotbeds, afterwards to be transplanted to cold frames, two 

 to a square yard, each plant being allowed to bear only one melon. These will ripen 

 at some time in May, and may sell as high as $6 each in Paris, and I am told that the 

 average price to the market gardener for forced melons is about $2.50. I think we 

 should seriously consider this industry of melon forcing, since the amount of manual 

 labor required is very small and Americans are very fond of good melons. I believe 

 there is a special variety of the 'Prescott 7 for forcing. The melons are about 4 to 6 

 inches in diameter. The slices are said to be sold in the restaurants for from 40 to 

 60 cents each." 



2099. Cucumis melo. Cantaloupe. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Prescott early frame." Very early; good for forcing. "Fruit spherical or 

 slightly flattened at the ends, with the ribs marked, faintly warty, marbled with 

 dark green on a pale green ground, and with the bottom of the furrows a uniform 

 olive green. Flesh orange, thick, juicy, melting. Melons 4 to 6 inches in diameter. 

 A plant should carry only one fruit for the early crop, and two for the general crop. 



