Netted melon
| 'Montreal Market' | |
|---|---|
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| Genus | Cucumis |
| Species | Cucumis melo |
| Cultivar | 'Montreal Market' |
| Origin | Introduced by Washington Atlee Burpee, 1881 |
The Montreal melon, also known as the Montreal market muskmelon or the Montreal nutmeg melon (French: melon de Montréal), is a variety of melon recently rediscovered and cultivated in the Montreal, Quebec, Canada, area. Scientifically, it is a cultivar of Cucumis melo subsp. melo.
It was originally widely grown between the St. Lawrence River and Mount Royal, on the Montreal Plain. In its prime from the late 19th century until World War II, it was one of the most popular varieties of melon on the east coast of North America. The fruit was large (larger than any other melon cultivated on the continent at the time), round, netted (like a muskmelon), flattened at the ends, deeply ribbed, with a thin rind. Its flesh was light green, almost melting in the mouth when eaten. Its spicy flavor was reminiscent of nutmeg.
American newspaper reports show that the melon was also grown in Vermont in the early 20th Century, and was found to be "exceedingly profitable" for the farmers. One article lists the melons selling for about $10/dozen at wholesale, and from $1.25 to $1.75 each at retail in 1907.
Reports from the late 19th Century tell of specimens weighing upwards of 20 lbs each: "The fruit is of the largest size, specimens often weighing twenty pounds and upward. The shape of this melon is almost round, flattened at both ends, and deeply ribbed, skin green and netted, flesh very thick and of finest flavor."
The melon disappeared as Montreal grew. Its delicate rind, suitable for the family farm, was ill-suited to agribusiness. But after a couple of generations, it was rediscovered in a seed bank maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Ames, Iowa, in 1996, and is currently enjoying a renaissance amongst Montreal-area gardeners.
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Wikipedia