4i6 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



thick, a little coarse, juicy, and of a high vinous flavour. The fruit 

 ripens slowly. This variety is hardy, and is grown in the open air in 

 the south of France, almost without any attention. The fruit has a 

 tendency to become modified in shape, and, at the present day, is 

 more elongated than it was twenty-five years ago. The district about 

 Cavaillon is one of the great centres of Melon-growing in the south 

 of France, and there are many distinct varieties in cultivation there, 

 so that the name " Cavaillon Melon " is rather an indication of the 

 place in which the fruit has been raised than a true specific name. 

 The variety which we have just described is at the present time far 

 less commonly grown in its native district than the various forms of 

 Malta Winter, and especially of Malta Summer Melons, such as the 

 following : * 



Green-fleshed Cavaillon or Malta Summer Melon. — A 



vigorous-growing plant, with very long stems. Leaves broad, 

 rounded, toothed on their entire margin, and of a palish green 

 colour. Fruit oblong, 5 or 6 in. in diameter, and 9 or 10 in. in 

 length ; skin smooth, of a dark green colour, thinly and loosely 

 netted when ripe ; flesh pale green, rather firm, but very juicy, 

 sweet, and perfumed in warm climates ; seldom good, however, in 

 the climate of Paris. 



Ribbed Cavaillon Red-fleshed Melon.— The Ribbed Cavaillon 

 Melon differs from the Red-fleshed kind in having well-marked 

 ribs. It is a vigorous plant, with leaves entire and vivid green. 

 The fruit is spherical and ribbed ; the skin silvery white, much 

 netted, and the stalk thick and swollen. The flesh is pale red, 

 firm, perfumed, and sugary. Does not ripen well in the vicinity 

 of Paris. 



Ribbed Cavaillon Green-fleshed Melon. — Distinguished from 

 the preceding by its fruit, which is oblong in shape and less netted. 

 The flesh is green, juicy, perfumed, and very sugary. It needs 

 much heat to ripen, and is at its best in the south of France. Of 

 all the netted sorts, it is the one most grown around Cavaillon, 

 whence it is distributed throughout the southern region. The 

 Cavaillon Melons are largely used in the south for various kinds 

 of preserves. 



Red-fleshed M:ita Winter Melon. — A plant of moderate 

 vigour, with slendc and very branching stems. Leaves slight, 

 gray-green, usually entire, but slightly twisted at the margin ; 

 fruit oblong, blunt at both ends, only about one-fourth or one- 

 third longer than b^'oad, seldom exceeding 9 or 10 in. in length, 

 and weighing from t.xree and a quarter to four and a half pounds. 

 The ribs are marked, but not very prominently, the furrows between 

 them being a gray-green, and the top of the ribs pale green spotted 

 with dark green, and covered, when ripe, with very short, almost 

 entirely longitudinal tracings. The fruit-stalk is inclined to be 



