414 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



toothed on the margin. Fruit nearly spherical or more or less 

 flattened at the ends, entirely without ribs, and very uniformly 

 covered with regular and very fine tracings, forming a very close 

 network which completely hides the natural colour of the skin ; 

 flesh orange colour, thick, and firm. The fruit is about 8 or lo in! 

 in diameter, and weighs, on an average, from four and a half to six 

 and three-quarter pounds. A well-grown plant may carry two 

 fruit. 



The Saint-Laud Market-Garden Melon and the Maze Market- 

 Garden Melon (from the neighbourhood of Angers) are somewhat 

 like the preceding kind, but differ from it in being oblong in shape, 

 having the ribs rather well marked and the skin more coarsely 

 netted. The flesh is orange-coloured, firm, and usually very sweet. 



Saint-Laud Market-Garden Melon Nutmeg Melon {\ natural 



{\ natural size). size). 



Nutmeg Melon. — A medium-sized, branching plant. Leaves 

 largish, waved at the edges, and of a rather dark, wan green colour ; 

 fruit oval, almost pear-shaped, narrowed to a point at the stalk end 

 and bluntly rounded at the other ; skin dark green, almost black, 

 marked with whitish tracins^s forming a rather loose network. The 

 length of the fruit varies from about 6 to 8 in., and the diameter 

 from 4 to about 6 in. The average weight is about two pounds and 

 a quarter. Flesh green, not very thick, but juicy, sweet, and highly 

 perfumed. This is a hardy and easily grown kind, ripening half- 

 late. Three fruit may be left on each plant. 



Honfleur Melon. — A very vigorous-growing plant, with very 

 branching, long, and slender stems. Leaves large and luxuriant, folded 

 and waved at the edges, light green in colour, usually distinctly lobed, 

 and toothed on the entire margin, and especially so towards the 

 extremity. The plant continues to flower for an exceedingly 



