| From the land that gave the world Godzilla and sushi comes what farmers hope will become the newest fad: square watermelons. It may sound strange, but think about it. Watermelons are a tasty treat, but they're not exactly easy to fit in a refrigerator already crowded with summer snacks. So, about 20 years ago, a farmer on the island of Shikoku in southwestern Japan came up with the idea of making a cube-shaped watermelon that can easily fit in the fridge. How do you get a naturally oblong melon to grow as a square? Farmers grew the fruit in glass boxes. The fruit then naturally assumed the same shape. On Thursday, about 400 cuboid watermelons were shipped to Tokyo and Osaka. The growers are hoping big-city residents will develop a yen for the peculiarly shaped produce. If city dwellers do have an appetite for the square melon, they'll have to pay. The melons are expected to be sold for around 10,000 yen apiece - equivalent to U.S. This square watermelon may look strange, but it will fit into your fridge a lot easier, farmers say. (Agencies) | 日本，这个为世界带来电影《哥斯拉》和寿司风暴的国家， 这次为我们带来了方形西瓜。 日本农民期待这会成为一种新时尚。 这听起来有点奇怪，但仔细一想也有道理。西瓜美味可口，但它椭圆的形状却很占地方，不易放在冰箱保存，尤其是在夏天，冰箱拥挤不堪的时候。 所以，20年前，一位四国岛的农民就产生了种植方便储藏在冰箱内的方形西瓜的念头。 如何让椭圆的西瓜长成方形呢？农民想到了玻璃箱，在玻璃箱中水果就依人所愿地长成了方形。 上周四，大约有400个方形西瓜被运到东京和大阪。种植者相信这种形状奇异的西瓜会刺激大城市居民的购买欲。 如果都市居民确实对它感兴趣，他们会愿意掏钱去买。这种方形西瓜预计售价为每个10,000日元，即每个83美元。 依农民的说法，这种方形西瓜形状是奇怪了些，但把它放在冰箱里储存起来确实容易多了。 (中国日报网站译) |
Updated: 2001-06-20 01:00
