4 
D. H. Gilbert, Monticello, Florida 
Saint Mary’s River, he was offered, among 
other vegetables, Watermelons, which is the 
first mention of Watermelon in American 
history. 
The discovery was in the now Jefferson 
County, Florida, at or near the present site 
of Monticello, therefore it cannot successfully 
he disputed that Watermelon originated, so far 
as America is concerned, in Florida. 
For nearly 200 years after Ribault’s discov¬ 
ery. watermelon was not mentioned as being 
raised in any other part of America. 
About the year 1700 it was mentioned as one 
of the vegetables raised along the coast of 
Carolina, but did not become prominent till 
near the 18th, century. 
It was described by David Livingston in 1857 
as being abundant in favorable years in the 
Kala hari Desert. (Probably refering mainly 
to the citron) normally is a dry-weather plant 
and grows satisfactory in a dry country. 
There are a number of marked types of the 
cultivated varieties, some are more disease re¬ 
sistant. stronger growers, and more productive. 
The original introduction of the Watermelon 
into the United States dates back to 1562, and 
is not likely that it reached us from Mediter¬ 
ranean lands. 
The U. S. Department of Agriculture reports 
that Jefferson County, Florida, produced and 
supplied about 80% of all watermelon seed used 
tor seeding purposes in the United States. 
Therefore. Monticello, Florida, can rightfully 
claim the Watermelon seed industry. 
The Watermelon is the most valuable vine 
crop grown in the United States, it has a wide 
distribution as a garden plant. 
Approximately 500.000 acres are planted an¬ 
nually in the United States, of this acreage 
about 250,000 'are planted by commercial grow- 
