Chap. LIIII.
Melo.
Milions or Muske Melons.
There bee diuers sorts of Melons found out at this day, differing much in the goodnesse of taste one from another. This Countrey hath not had vntill of late yeares the skill to nourse them vp kindly, but now there are many that are so well experienced therein, and haue their ground so well prepared, as that they will not misse any yeare, if it be not too extreme vnkindly, to haue many ripe ones in a reasonable time: yet some will be later then others alwayes.
The Melon is certainly a kinde of Cowcumber, it doth so neere resemble it, both in the manner of his growing, hauing rough trailing branches, rough vneuen leaues, and yellow flowers: after which come the fruit, which is rounder, thicker, bigger, more rugged, and spotted on the outside then the Cowcumber, of a russet colour, and greene vnderneath, which when it groweth full ripe, will change a little yellowish, being as deepe furrowed and ribbed as they, and besides hauing chaps or rifts in diuers places of the rinde: the inward hard substance is yellow, which onely is eaten: the seede which is bigger, and a little yellower then the Cowcumber, lying in the middle onely among the moister pulpe: the smell and changing of his colour, fore-shew their ripenesse to them that are experienced: the roote is long, with many fibres at it. The fruit requireth much watering in the hot time of the day, to cause them to ripen the sooner, as I haue obserued by diuers of the best skill therein.
The Vse of the kindes of Melons.
The best Melon seede doe come to vs out of Spaine, some haue come out of Turkie, but they haue been nothing so good and kindly.
Some are called Sugar Melons, others Peare Melons, and others Muske Melons.
They haue beene formerly only eaten by great personages, because the fruit was not only delicate but rare; and therefore diuers were brought from France, and since were noursed vp by the Kings or Noblemens Gardiners onely, to serue for their Masters delight: but now diuers others that haue skill and conueniencie of ground for them, doe plant them and make them more common.
They paire away the outer rinde, and cut out the inward pulpe where the seede lyeth, slice the yellow firme inward rinde or substance, & so eate it with salt and pepper (and good store of wine, or else it will hardly digest) for this is firmer, & hath not that moisture in it that the Cowcumbers haue. It is also more delicate, and of more worth, which recompenseth the paine.
The seed of these Melons are vsed as Cowcumbers physically, and together with them most vsually.