CANTALOUP, OR ROCK MELONS 425 



Prescott Early Frame Melon. — A medium-sized plant. 

 Leaves broad, rounded or slightly angular, of a light gray-green 

 colour, and almost always folded in the shape of a funnel ; fruit 

 spherical, or slightly flattened at the ends, with the ribs marked, 

 faintly warted, marbled with dark green on a pale green ground, 

 and with the bottom of the furrows a uniform olive-green ; flesh 

 orange-coloured, thick, juicy, and melting. The diameter of the 

 fruit is from about 5 to 6 in., and its length (from stem to eye) from 

 4 to 5 in. Its weight ranges from twenty-six ounces to over two 

 pounds. A plant should carry only one fruit for the early crop, 

 and two for the general crop. This variety is remarkably early, 

 and its quality is almost invariably excellent. It and the Early 

 Black Rock Melon are the best two kinds for forcing under frames. 



Prescott Early Frame Melon Early Black Rock, or Des Carmes Cantaloup, 

 (i natural size). Melon (|- natural size). 



Early Black Rock, or Des Carmes Cantaloup, Melon. — 



A medium-sized, rather branching plant. Leaves largish, of a dark, 

 shining green colour, very distinctly five-lobed, folded at the edges, 

 almost in the shape of a funnel ; leaf-stalk short and thick ; fruit 

 nearly spherical, but slightly flattened at the ends, with ribs clearly 

 but not very deeply marked ; skin usually smooth and without 

 warts, of very dark green, almost black, turning to orange when 

 ripe ; flesh orange-coloured, thick, sweet, perfumed, and of excellent 

 quality. The diameter of the fruit varies from about 6 to 7 in., 

 and its length (from stalk to eye) from about 5 to 6 in. ; it weighs 

 from about two pounds and a quarter to three pounds and a half. 

 A plant may carry two fruit for the general crop. This is one of 

 the best and most easily grown of the early Melons. 



Bomb-shaped Cantaloup Melon. — A very vigorous grower, 

 with numerous leaves of vivid green, very much cut, especially 

 when young. The fruit is oblong, narrowed at both ends, some- 

 times slightly netted or scaly, and a black-green when ripe. 

 The skin is very thin ; the flesh dark orange, very tender and very 

 juicy. Evidently sprung from the Black Rock or des Carmes 

 Melon, which it resembles except in shape, it is very productive. 



