Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-27

mothers. II grows 10 great perfection, II
is true, in Colorado, but the Melted Gem il
is and nothing more. Many eastern people
wait until the Jersey melon comes into the
market. Being grown near home, 1t is
picked ripe and is supposed to be much
sweeter than any other variety. The Jersey
melon is usually nothing more nor less
than the Melted Gem or some nearly re-
lated variety. Throughout the Mississippi
valley and to some extent in the east the
Usage melon reigns supreme. 1t is a large
green melon, not 50 handsome as the Rocky
Ford, but very rich and luscious. This
melon also has a curious history. Morrill,,
one Of the most famous fruit growers in the
state Of Michigan, as well as in the United
States, had become discouraged with his
calling at the time the 'yellows' carried off
50 many peach orchards. Accordingly he
made a trip into the far southwest to pros
pect for gold. While there he found a wild
melon OF unusual flavor and sweetness, al
though it was not large. He did not find
any gold, but he came home with his melon,
planted the seeds and in a few years he
was supplying nearly the entire Chicago
market with the product of this New Mexi-
can seed.
The New Russian Melon.
Mr.. Taylor told me of a new discovery
just made by the Agricultural department.
a melon that will keep well into the winter
like a squash. Some time ago Prof. Hanson
was sent to Russia TO gather the seeds of
fruits and valuable agricultural plants I'M
known to this country. Among others he
found at Khiva, Turkestan, the seed of a
melon which was picked green and kept TO
rioen in a root house or cellar. The fruit
often reached the great size of thirty pounds
and 1t bore some resemblance when ripe
AzNl ~ A. Al A. ~ -
melon; it seemed indeed to be in some way
a hibrid between the two. These seeds,
planted in this country. have grown with
great success and the Agricultural depart
ment is confident that 1t has made a genuine
discovery which will later yield substantial
money returns to the fruit growers of the
entire country. In the course of two or
three years we may expect to see delicious
ripe melons on sale during the Christmas
holidays and even later in the winter.
Watermelons, unlike the canteloupes, have
not yet begun to be designated by variety
names, except perhaps by the more advanced
dealers. There Is the round watermelon
and the long green watermelon, and that Is
about as far as it goes. But 1t Is only a
question CT time when the purchaser HIM
self will be able to distinguish the Triumph
melon from Kolb's Gem and Dixey from
AiobhS mn S"SSb' ohN ~ NHS S"NN ~
Gators of the public in this respect have
been the fruit shows held of late years in
many important cities. People are begin
ming TO know that the best looking melon is
not always the sweetest and best, and plant
ers are beginning to learn that 1t pays to adj
vertise and push varieties which are par
ticularly excellent. For this reason there
has been growing during the past few years
a tendency on the part of advanced growers
to ship in peculiar kinds Of crates, and
boxes with special labels, so that their fruit
can be distinguished anywhere in the mar
ket. I know one grower whose fruit comes
largely to the Chicago market who has this
sign on every one of his baskets:
BY THEIR FRUITS SHALL
YE KNOW THEM.
Another famous grove who has extensive