Correspondence.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 13 July 1917, Page 2

Correspondence.

The Delicious Casabas, or Melon-Like Fruit, and Tbeir Cultivation.

' To the Editor. Sir,—These magnificent fruit "are'as ~ yet practically unknown here, where they could be grown as easily as melons or pumpkins. They are totally distinct from ordinary rock or water melons, and in a class by. themselves. - Ip California, U.S.A., where the cli;mate is similar to ours they are very profitable and are grown extensively, and hundreds of car loads are forwarded to the Eastern States each season. There are many varieties, the best of which, appear to be the Improved Hybrid, Golden Hybrid, Beauty, and White African; they all possess a most delicious flavour and are more' nutritious and sustaining cn account x of the firmer flesh than ordinary melons. They ripen up to quite late in the fall and keep well into early winter, aad, if stored in a cool placwill keep still later. Varieties placed in a sunny a few days wil * ripen well.j In appearance most o) them resemble a hard, heavy, wrinkleii melon and vary in weight from 10 to 201bs. The vines are ronust and vigorous, and the foliage is larger than that of rock melons, and they are very prolific, i When the soil is hot rich, it " should be well worked and manured, planting two or, three seeds in each 4ill 12 or 13 feet apart : The soil should be kept loose round the plants until the vines begin to run, when they should be earthed up. When . wanted for market, to which—they carry-well, ths fruit should be taken from tbeu--vines when threy lose their green lustre, but should not be eaten until,, about a week or so after 'tfcuy turn yellow, or give slightly under pressure as with a melon apple. The is firmer that of ordinary ' rock melons, without any stringiness, and the flavor is splendid. Their cultivation should prova very lucrative to our farmers, who should readily ob-. tain from Is to 3s each- for them, and' they can be marketed right into the winter months, when other melons have disappeared.—Yours faithfully, B. Harrison, F.R.ET.S., Burringbar P. 0., N.S. W.: 28,6,17. ~ • '