stock melon n
= pie melon n 1.
1890 KS Farmer (Topeka) 12 Feb 4/4, The cut on this page represents the Kansas stock melon. . . This melon is grown extensively in western Kansas and eastern Colorado. It belongs to the citrons, and can be only used for preserves or stock food. . . The melons grow to a large size, some of them weighing as high as sixty or seventy pounds. 1901 Seymour Daily Democrat (IN) 14 Feb 2/2 OK, [Letter:] The best thing we have found for cattle and hogs is Oklahoma stock melons. They can be grown on most any kind of soil and make an immense yield. . . They make nice pies and are called by some apple-pie melons. 1903 CA Ag. Exper. Sta. Berkeley Bulletin 147.88, The best stock-melon ever tested at the substation . . is the Tsama or Khama melon [= citron melon n 2]. . . [I]t yields about twice as much to the acre as does the Kansas stock melon, and stands drought better. The melons are small, round, covered with small prickles, and are not attractive, but stock eat them readily. 1919 Fresno Morning Republican (CA) 19 Jan 26/2, One of the most valuable and least discussed sources of stock feed in this county is the “pie-melon” which is never used for pies. It should be called stock melon. 1925 Fairhope Courier (AL) [14 Aug 5]/5, Anton Aranza . . left with the Courier a melon which has attracted a great deal of attention. It has all the appearances of a watermelon and weighs 56 pounds, but he says it is a pie or stock melon. 1942 Hennessey Clipper (OK) 1 Oct [5]/3, [Advt:] For Sale—Stock melons, 50 bushel load $1.25. 1990 Tampa Tribune (FL) 23 Aug sec G 6/1, Q—In my garden I have a citron melon. Is that the same citron used in fruit cakes? A—Citron or stock melon should not be confused with citron of the citrus fruit family.