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Circuit based on old "plank" and "plunk" method. Develop by trail vibrations and taste test to find "green", "ripe', and "over-ripe" ranges.
One Old Timer's Method:
This is the strategy that my father has always used: 1) look for a yellow spot on the bottom of the watermelon, that means it was allowed to ripen on the ground before being picked 2) check the blossom end of the watermelon, it should be dry and somewhat flaky 3) lastly the thunk test, He says there are 4 sounds plink, plank, plunk, and thud. plink and plank are ok, never take home a plunk or thud, they are overripe ( I'm guessing that the low thud you have been told to listen for is my dad's version of the plunk or thud) The best watermelons will give a tone similar to a snare drum.
Circuit shows idea and not to scale. You would have blunt rod vibrated by electro-magnetic means against one side of watermelon ( large square in center) and a similar rod on other side to pick up vibrations modified "dampened" by the fruit.
Watermelon is a fruit and a vegetable. It is a fruit because it grows from a seed, it has a sweet flavor and refreshing qualities. It is a vegetable because it is harvested and cleared from the field like other vegetables and because it is a member of the same family as the cucumbers, pumpkin and squash.
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