244 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



The record in size is held by a Georgia melon 

 weighing 134 pounds. California boasts the next 

 $ne, which weighed 131! pounds. 



A hard-fleshed, globular watermelon with little 

 sweetness is the so-called "citron/' whose thick 

 flesh is used for making sweet pickles and other 

 preserves. It has no relation to the true citron 

 we get in candied form. That is a near relative of 

 the orange. 



The muskmelon, or canteloupe, grows wild on 

 the coasts of Guinea, in Central Africa, and in 

 southwestern Asia. The fruit is tasteless, and 

 does not exceed the average lemon in size. Who 

 could see and taste that unpromising pepo, and 

 dream of a Rocky Ford or an Emerald Gem! 



Every country with a hot climate, and light, 

 but rich, sandy loam can grow this most delicious 

 of garden products with little trouble. Northern 

 states have a short season, but they grow the best 

 melons and most of them. New Jersey produces 

 one half of the crop grown in the United States. 

 It supplies the great cities of the North Atlantic 

 coast. 



The two types of muskmelons grown in this 

 country are the early, short-seasoned, nutmeg 

 melons (with a soft, netted rind), and the long- 

 seasoned, hard-rinded, and furrowed canteloupe, 



