Cantaloupe.
—This is a general name given to the melons of the French type or varieties thereof growing in the United States. It is supposed to have had its origin in Italy, though its history is so old as not to be certain. The cantaloupe is of various sizes and shapes and various degrees of sweetness. In the United States the variety grown at Rocky Ford, Colorado, is noted for its sweetness and general palatability. For this reason many melons not grown at Rocky Ford are improperly sold under that name. There are a great many varieties of cantaloupes. Generally the flesh of the cantaloupe is green instead of yellow. The cantaloupe is often called muskmelon.
ANALYSIS OF JUICE OF MUSKMELONS.
| From Rind of Melon. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series No. | Brix. | Nitro- gen. | Ash. | Su- crose. | Re- ducing Sugar. |
| Percent. | Percent. | Percent. | Percent. | ||
| 495, | 11.5 | .106 | 1.23 | 3.99 | 3.97 |
| 554, | 8.4 | .018 | 0.66 | 2.47 | 3.62 |
| 587, | 5.0 | .053 | 0.47 | 2.25 | 2.84 |
| 613, | 10.3 | .156 | 0.93 | 2.77 | 3.64 |
| Average, | 8.8 | .083 | 0.82 | 2.87 | 3.52 |
| Juice of Edible Portion of Melon. | |||||
| Series No. | Brix. | Nitro- gen. | Ash. | Su- crose. | Re- ducing Sugar. |
| Percent. | Percent. | Percent. | Percent. | ||
| 495, | 12.9 | .130 | 1.20 | 6.60 | 2.88 |
| 554, | 8.2 | .069 | 0.87 | 4.96 | 2.47 |
| 587, | 5.8 | .043 | 0.50 | 2.26 | 2.57 |
| 623, | 11.5 | .134 | 0.95 | 5.19 | 2.25 |
| Average, | 9.6 | .094 | 0.88 | 4.75 | 2.54 |
Watermelons.
—This is an entirely different variety from the French melon or cantaloupe. Its botanical name is Citrullus citrullus L. French, melon d’eau; German, Wasser-Melone; Italian, cocomero, Spanish, sandia.
The watermelon is said to be indigenous to Africa. It is grown extensively in the United States, especially in the southern part. It is a field crop of considerable importance, especially in the state of Georgia. The watermelon grows best on a sandy soil, though it requires it to be well fertilized. The vines, when they reach their full growth, cover the entire field. The melons often grow to a very large size,—specimens weighing from 50 to 60 pounds being not unusual. The average size, however, is much less than that. The Georgia melon is somewhat oval in shape, reaching generally from a foot to eighteen inches in length and from a foot to fifteen inches in diameter. The flesh is generally red and the seeds usually black. The watermelon is in the market from early summer until the late autumn. It bears shipping quite well, and is sent usually in box cars without crating, and, if kept at a low temperature, will remain palatable for many days or even weeks. The fresh ripe melon, however, is far superior in quality to any that are harvested partly green and kept for a long time. About forty or fifty varieties of watermelons grow in the United States.
Composition of Melons.
—The following data show the composition of the flesh of the muskmelon and the watermelon:
| Muskmelon: | ||
| Water, | 89.50 | percent |
| Ash, | .60 | „ |
| Protein, | .60 | „ |
| Fiber, | .92 | „ |
| Starch, sugar, etc., | 8.20 | „ |
| Fat, | .18 | „ |
| Watermelon: | ||
| Water, | 91.87 | percent |
| Ash, | .33 | „ |
| Protein, | .40 | „ |
| Fiber, | .55 | „ |
| Starch, sugar, etc., | 6.65 | „ |
| Fat, | .20 | „ |