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, proper. The names are often used interchange ably. In California, which produces fine melons for home and eastern markets from May to December, the term "canteloupe" is the one in use for all varieties.
The most famous variety in the United States, east and west, is the Rocky Ford, named for a town in Colorado, the centre of the district which produced and distributed this unequalled strain of the old "Netted Gem." Something in the soil and situation of these Colorado melon fields especially fits them to grow the sweetest, richest melons yet placed on the market. The flesh is thick and green, and finely netted outside. One and a half pounds is the average size. This variety exceeds others in yield of marketable fruit in the wonderfully productive melon fields of Colorado and California.
Michigan has a favorite strain of the same old variety. The Osage supplies near and distant markets in the central northern states. The Montreal Market, a Canadian strain, is a favorite in the Northeast, and is grown even in California.
The Cassaba, or pineapple canteloupe, is a large, smooth-skinned, furrowed melon, with rich, creamy flesh, flavored somewhat like a pineapple. The chief distinction of this variety, and the sub varieties derived from it in the past few years, is that its season is late, and it bears after other melon crops are gone. The ripe fruit is stored for months and keeps well in transportation to eastern markets for the holiday trade.
In Persia and Turkestan, and all .Mediterranean countries, north and south, melons have from the earliest times been a staple article of food for all classes of people. The improvement of the culti vated varieties has produced far more forms than we know in American gardens and markets. The French horticulturists have led in the work of im provement, and French gardeners excel in the production of dessert qualities, in hothouses, melon-pits, and in the field. England has too cool a climate for outdoor melon culture, but raises choice varieties to perfection under glass.