WATERMELON. 



211 



Cucurhita Citrullus — Watermelon. 



Tliis is also a trailing annual, a native of the tropics, 

 and of the same natural family as the musk melon, but 

 belongs to a distinct genus. It is a large succulent and 

 refreshing, but not high-flavored, fruit, and is probably 

 the melon mentioned in the Bible. 



The varieties just now in most repute in the Northern 

 States, are Imperial, Black Spanish, Mountain Sprout, and 

 IMountain SAveet, particularly the latter. The Orange Melon 

 is also deservedly popular, the rind separating from the 

 pulp like the orange. I have tried the above, but have 

 never succeeded in getting as good melons as those raised 

 from seed grown in the low country of our own State. 

 The "Lawson melon" of Augusta, Ga., is probably 

 the best grown. The Anderson is excellent. The 

 Citron watermelon is a small, round, pale-green, mar- 

 bled sort, liked by many for preserves. The watermelon 

 has been analyzed by J.H. Salisbury. He found the per- 



centage of water, dry matter, and ash as follows: — 



Per-centage of water, . ^ . 94.898 



„ dry matter, . . . 5.102 



„ ash, . , . . .248 



„ do. in dry matter, . 4.861 



The ash was found to be constituted as follow^ : — 



Carbonic acid, . . . . 11.42 



Silicic acid, " . 1.21 



Phosphoric acid, .... 14.93 



Sulphuric acid, 1.63 



Posphate of iron, . . . . 4.52 



Lime, 7.32 



Magnesia. . . . . 1.31 



Potash, 23,95 



Soda, 30.63 



Chlorine 1.8] 



Organic matter, .... trace 



98 73 



