602 



THE MELON. 



when allowed plenty of room in a congenial climate, grows twenty feet high, 

 with a stem measuring three feet in circumference at the base ; leaves ten 

 feet long and three feet broad ; the bunch of fruit weighing above 50 lbs. 

 The fruit is more pointed than that of M. s. Cavendishii, and of excellent 

 quality. 



M. s. var. Cavendishii, syn. M. s. chinensis, the Duke of Devonshire's 

 Banana, is valuable on account of its fruiting at a small size, and within a 

 year from the time the suckers are taken off. The fruit is not so plump as 

 that of the two preceding varieties, and it has a great tendency to smother 

 one half of each cluster in the folds of the leaves, unless very great heat be 

 given just at the time it is developing its flower-spike. 



1332. Culture^ S)C. Twenty plants of Musa s. Cavendishii, may be fruited 

 within the year, in a pit thirty feet by fifteen feet, and the weight of fruit 

 produced may be from 400 lbs. to 500 lbs. An equal weight of pine apples 

 may be fruited in the same space in the same time ; but much additional 

 room would be required for bringing them forward, for six months at least, 

 before they were put into the fruiting-house. The summer temperature for 

 the Banana is 65" min., and 85° max., or more with sun heat. Winter 

 temperature, 65° min., and 75° max. The Bananas that ripen in winter 

 are but little inferior to the summer fruit. For other details see R. Carter, 

 in G. M., 1842. 



SuBSECT. III. — The Melon. 



1333. The Melon, Cucumis Melo L. (Melon, Fr. ; Melone, Ger. ; 

 Meleon, Dutch; Mellone, Ital. ; and Melon, Span.), is a trailing or climbing 

 tendrilled annual, the history and culture of which will be found in p. 487> 

 and the following are the best varieties at present in cultivation. 



1334. Melons with redfle§h. 



Black rock., syn. Rock Cantaloup. Fruit very large, round, depressed at 

 both extremities, covered with knobs, or carbuncles ; weight, from 8lbs. to 

 14lbs. A large showy fruit, but of inferior flavour. The Dutch rock can- 

 taloup is a smaller-fruited variety, weighing from 51bs. to 81bs. 



Early Cantaloup. Fruit small, nearly round, ribbed, but not warted ; 

 flavour good ; weight from 21bs. to 41bs. Valuable for its earliness and for 

 being a great bearer. 



Netted Cantaloup.^ syn. White-seeded Cantaloup. Fruit round, and rather 

 small ; skin pale green, closely reticulated ; flesh dark reddish orange, with 

 a rich sugary juice ; weight, from 21bs. to 5lbs. 



1335. Melons with green flesh. 



Franklyns Gi'een-flesh. Roundish, sometimes a little netted, skin green- 

 ish-yellow when ripe, flesh exceedingly tender and rich ; weight from 31bs. 

 to 41bs. One of the best melons for a general crop. Bailey'' s Green-flesh is 

 an improved variety of this kind. 



Improved Green-flesh. Roundish, not ribbed like most of the other kinds 

 of green-flesh ; slightly netted, skin thin, and pale yellow when ripe ; flesh 

 thick, green, and of exquisite flavour ; weight, from 4lbs. to 51bs. A good 

 bearer, and one of the best of cantaloup melons. 



Beechwood. Oval, greenish yellow, netted ; flesh pale-green, rich and 

 sugary ; a good bearer, and one of the very best. 



