[Sca-cooks] Newbie Question about Watermelon

[Daniel Phelps]

The Four Seasons of The House of Cerruti ISBN0-8160-0138-3 is a facsimile
edition and translation of the 14th century Latin manuscript "Tacuinum
Sanitatis in Medicina".  It shows three color plates of what are labeled
melons and watermelons.  The first is a classic water melon shaped, i.e. a
very oblate spheroid,  smooth skinned green and whitish striped melon.  They
are referred to as melones dulces.  In the picture they are about the length
of a man's leg from foot knee. Eat them with mature cheese and salty foods
and drink a fine wine.  The second are spherical smooth skinned dark green
melons.  They are referred to as melones insipidi.   Pick a good one by the
sound obtained by tapping on the outside.  In Tuscany they are called
cocomero.  They are show perhaps a third larger than a man's head.  The
third are spherical yellowish melons.  They are referred to as melones indi
et palestini.  They are show perhaps a third larger than a man's head as
well.  A man is show sniffing one.  They do not look quite like a modern
cantaloupe as the skin appears to be smooth.  Tis hard to tell however.  All
three are shown with largish  pale yellow flowers and large round fan shaped
leaves.

Daniel