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THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



to a remarkable degree close to the fruit. The shape of the fruit 

 is somewhat variable, the length sometimes exceeding the diameter, 

 and sometimes the reverse. The extreme diameters range from 

 about 10 to 12 in. and the fruit often weighs from eleven to 

 thirteen pounds, A plant should not be allowed to carry more 

 than one fruit. 



The Maron Melon, which was mentioned some years ago, and 

 which weighed, it is said, as much as twenty pounds, is a 

 selection from the Black Portugal Melon. 



Other Varieties of Cantaloup Melons 



Archangel Cantaloup Melon. — A handsome, medium-sized 

 variety. Fruit nearly spherical, or slightly flattened at the ends, 

 with ribs faintly marked, and a gray-green, not very warty, skin, 

 almost intermediate in appearance between the White Prescott and 

 the Sugar Cantaloup Melon ; flesh red, thick, juicy, sweet, and 

 high^ flavoured. 



Epinal Cantaloup Melon. — This appears to be a sub-variety 

 of the Prescott Early Frame Melon, which it somewhat exceeds in 

 size. The fruit is almost spherical, with ribs pretty well marked, 

 and a pale green skin variegated with gray. Flesh red, and very 

 thick. 



Early English Cantaloup Melon. — This variety, which is 

 now not much grown, is distinguished by its small size and great 

 earliness. The fruit is slightly flattened at the ends, and does 

 not exceed 4 or 5 in. in diameter. Flesh red, fine flavoured, and 

 good. 



Mogul Cantaloup Melon. — Fruit almost pear-shaped, twice as 

 long as broad, with very prominent ribs ; skin wrinkled, velvety, 

 and covered with warts ; flesh red and thick, but deficient in 

 flavour. Ripens very late. 



Black Dutch Cantaloup Melon. — Fruit very 

 large, oblong, sometimes almost pear-shaped ; ribs 

 well marked, warty, of a dark green colour, almost 

 black, more or less marbled with paler green ; skin 

 thick ; flesh orange-red, comparatively scanty, and 

 rather coarse. Ripens late. 



Orange Cantaloup Melon. — A small oblong 

 Melon, ribbed ; with orange-coloured, firm, and 

 not very thick flesh. Inferior in all respects to 

 Me^on^^^"''^ the Bellegarde Cantaloup Melon. 

 ^ Passy Cantaloup Melon. — This Melon almost 



exactly resembles the Prescott Early Frame Melon in all the 

 parts of the plant, differing clearly from it, however, in the fruit, 

 which in the Passy Melon is smoother, more regularly spherical, 



