Show Simple Tests Show Quality Of Melons W Weather cather Conditions lave Have Much to Do DoVith With Quality Quality Quality ity of f Fruit Picking a melon Is as much of a gamble as choosing a husband You may get a good one If It you have havea a trained car ear the time honored tice of thumping watermelon with your knuckles Is a reliable test A grown full ripe melon has a dull muffled sound when thumped while a green one sounds metallic The ripe melon says plunk and the green creen one says sas plink If the under side of the watermelon water watermelon melon is a ol pale p yellow lemon or a warm warm ivory color with the tho skin rough then the melon Is ripe A warm yellowish green creen rather than a abright al bright clear green on the top indi cates ripeness too However the var variety ety of the melon influences the color to some some extent Thumb Nail Test Ther Theres There's s a thin like film coating al all allover allover over the surface of a watermelon When the thumb nail Is Is' drawn across it this thiS coating conting will peel off like dry wax if the melon is ripe Although misshapen melons should be avoided the thc natural shape of the fruit is of ot no importance round or long melons being equally good Large melons are arc more desirable than small ones but a small heavy melon is preferable to a lightweight large one Overripe melons may be detected by the dull appearance of the rind rim and the thc la large ge num number er of yellow veins I showing through tHe tic green surface If H part o of a cut melon is bought keep in mind that the flesh should be bea a deep pink or a bright red well welt ou out outto outto to the rind with a lovely silver sheen over It all Must lust Mature on Vines Regardless of variety all aU melons must have plenty of heat before they can reach maturity so weather cond conditions con con- d it ions throughout the country have much to do with the quality of the fruit They must mature on the vines and they must be bc ripe when cut for use They may ripen after alter picking without greatly harming the but full growth must be allowed allowed allowed al al- al- al lowed before harvesting Thoroughly chilled watermelon is refreshing for summer meals Serve as a cocktail with a sherry dressing dress dress' ing tag in a salad in a sherbet or a frappe Since it Is chiefly water i it itis itis is of little fuel value and adds a minimum of oC calories to ones one's diet though rich in vitamin C. C |