The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-31
THE HANOVER WATERMELON.
The Prospect for a Good Crop and The
Manner Of Its Disposition.
4 HISTORY OF THE LUSCIOUS FRUIT.
Tho Way IL 10 Brought to the Richmond Mar
ket In the White-Covsred Carts.
Israelites' Fondncss for IL.

Long before the first streaks Of dawn APP
pear, and while the darkness Of night still
rests over the city, the rumbling Of tho coun-
try carts are heard upon the roads and streets
leading into Richmond. When the festive
rooster heralds the near approach Of the day,
and the tramp of the police resounds along
the deserted streets. q queer yet interesting
picture is presented about the market places.
THE MARKET PLACE.
The patient mule is standing tied 10 the
cart wheel, while down between the shafts,
upon the bag Of hay which shall soon serve
as breakfast for the mule. the driver lies
fast asleep. The cart is filled with water
melons. every size, many shapes and variety
of shades of green.
As the day advances the people begin to
stir. now and then a shutter is thrown open
with bang. front door is slammed and ont
into the cool of the early morning the bread
winners begin their daily toll. The lusty
merketman turns upon his bed of hay, rubs
his eyes, then gets upon his feet, stretches his
arms out like country cross-road sign board.
and drinks in delicious draughts OF the sau-
brious elixir Of morning air. y
Here's yer Joe Johnston Hanover county
watermeons" he begins. and as the busy
housewife, the domestic man. and the appre-
ciative colored population begin 10 throng
the market his voice rings out clearly, and
the burden of his cheerful song remains all
day the same.
Hanover county watermelons OF all the
luscious fruit that ripens in the golden South
ern sunshine there is no fruit like Hanover
county watermelons. For these the average
colored man longs with all that tondness
which possessed the children of
Israel when they cried out 10 Moses
in remembrance Of the melons they had
toasted on in Re fertile lands Of Egypt. for
in Numbers it is recorded they cried for the
cucumbers. and the melons, and the leeks
and the onions and the garlick" -what
splendid field for rising young doctor and
an ambulance corps
Georgia NAV come with her cargoes of
melons, and the Carolinss ship their crop TO
every market. but whenever in New York or
any other Northern market placard an
nOunces Hanover county watermoions' the
spirited bidding begins.
THE CROP.
The crop of melons this year is splendid,
and the growers are in great glee. Every va
riety has yielded magnificent results. and 1t Is
prosperous year for Hanover county.
The watermelon (citrallus vulgaris) is Of
Asiatic or African origin. most likely African
and the varieties have by judicious cultivation
grown 10 be very numerous. There IS much
difference in the various kinds. and they are
known both to growers and dealers by specific
names. The sizes and color of the rinds diff
fer considerably. and even the flesh ranges in
color from white 10 deepest red Their
qualities, for purposes Of shipping are also
recognized. and the growers for distant mar
kets regard this as very essential feature.
The ice-cream melon IS one OF delightful
flavor II is nearly round, Of pale green rind.
and the flesh and seeds are white. In Europe
the watermelon is not raised 10 any extent,
and is used almost exclusively as food for cat
tie and swine, but in Africa and the Oriental
countries the crops are even in excess OF that
of America Nearly every section has its pecu
liar and distinct varieties OF melons, and by
name they are recognized. The Seminole Is
large and exceedingly productive melon,
which originated in Florida. Ii Is oblong IN
shape and is frequently found in two colors-
gray and light green. 1t is a very early melon
and is of fine favor.
Floridas Fayorite is another especial growth
Of this State and il pronounced 10y growers as
one of the finest and sweetest melons extant.
The Mammoth Ironclad and Kolb Gem
are melons we'll known for their superior
qualities, both for market and shipping ,pur,,
pOrses. The flesh of each is dark REQ ana
the flavor particularly delig
Dark Icing and Mountain Sweet are two
very early and delicious varieties. The hesn
il scarlet the rind thin and they are prime
favorites in the markets. The Jackson melon
is an old fayorite. 1t is light green in color,
of medium size and is very sweet and unsur-
passed in flavor
THE JOE JOHNSTON.
The Joe Johnston is perhaps the best sized
and most productive OF any melon grown IN
this section Ii is striped. dark and light
green, and is vigorous in growth. The Lesh