THE CUCUMBER. 



603 



1336. Persian Melons. 



Keising Melon. Egg-sliaped, about eight inches long by five inches wide 

 in the middle ; colour, pale yellow, netted all over ; flesh nearly white, high- 

 flavoured, and texture like that of a ripe Beurre pear. 



Large Germek Melon. Shaped like a depressed sphere ; usually six inches 

 deep, and varying from seven inches to nine inches in breadth ; skin sea- 

 green, and closely netted ; flesh green, becoming paler toward the middle, 

 firm, j.uicy, rich, and high-flavoured ; weight from 51bs. to 61bs. ; ripens 

 early, and a good bearer. 



Green Hoosainee Melon. Egg-shaped ; five inches long by four inches 

 broad ; skin light-green, netted ; flesh pale greenish- white, tender, full of 

 pleasant, sweet juice. Hardy, and a great bearer. 



Persian Pine-apple Melon. Ovate, netted ; skin of a deep colour when 

 ripe ; flesh granulated, the juice not so luscious as in some other varieties ; 

 weight about 31bs. A handsome variety. 



Sweet Ispahan. Fruit ovate, from eight inches to twelve inches long ; 

 skin nearly smooth, of a deep sulphur colour ; flesh white, extending about 

 half way to its centre, crisp, sugary, and very rich ; weight 51bs. to 61bs. 



1337. Winter Melons. 



Winter Melons are but little cultivated in England, but they are 

 common in the south of France and Spain, and annually imported by the 

 fruiterers in the autumn. They are oval or oblong, netted, with white 

 flesh, and a sugary flavour. The two best varieties are the Dampsha, and 

 the Green Valencia. Both sorts have the valuable property of keeping till 

 the winter months, if hung up by the stalks, or in nets, in a dry room. 



1338. Water Melons. 



The Water Melon is the Cucurbita citrullus, L. (Pasteque, Fr. ; 

 Wassermelone, Ger. ; Water -meloen, Dutch ; Cocomero, Ital. ; and Arbusi, 

 is a trailing annual, producing a large, round, smooth, dark -green 

 fruit, with dark seeds. It is full of watery juice, which is refreshing, but 

 almost without flavour. It is much cultivated in Italy and other parts of 

 the south of Europe, but very rarely in England. The foliage is very orna- 

 mental, and the shoots extend to a great length. The time for ripening 

 melons to a high degree of perfection in Britain extends from about the 

 middle of J une to the middle or latter end of September. Ripened before 

 or after these periods the flavour is inferior, for want of sun. 



SuBSECT. IV. — The Cucumber. 

 1339. The Cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. (Concombre, Fr.; Gurke, Ger.j 

 Komkommer, Dutch; Citriuolo, Ital. ; and Pepino, or Cohombro, Span.) 

 is a trailing or climbing tendrilled annual, of which we have already given 

 the history and culture, p. 494. The varieties in cultivation are continually 

 changing, but those considered the best, at the present time, are the 

 following : — 



Syon House. Skin of a smooth and shining green, with few or no spines; 

 usual length between eight inches and nine inches. Hardy, and a great 

 bearer, and, according both to Duncan and Ayres, the best of all cucumbers 

 for pot culture. 



Hort's Early Frame. Skin of a deep green, with black spines ; length 



