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Melons are an important component of fresh fruit salads, however they suffer from limited shelf life. Processing of melon fruit for use in fruit salads induces a number of changes including alterations in colour and texture. In addition, respiration rate and ethylene production are affected. Processing also elicits changes in flavour (sweetness) and aroma (production of volatile organic compoundsVOCs), of critical importance to the consumer. Several parameters govern shelf life; temperature is a critical factor. In this study we tested whether cut size is another parameter that can affect quality indicators. Melon (Cucumis melo cv. arapaho) cubes of three sizes were stored at 4 o C and assessed for quality at five time-points over a 15 day period. We assessed a number of parameters including firmness, loss of fresh weight, respiration rate, antioxidant capacity, phenolic compounds and carotenoid content. In addition we measured VOC profiles to assess whether there were any qualitative changes associated with storage period and/or cut size. Fresh weight (FW) loss and respiration rate increased significantly with storage time and FW loss was affected by cut size. Total carotenoid levels remained stable during the storage time as did antioxidant capacity in all cut sizes. However, cinnamic acid levels tended to decrease in the last stage of the storage period and changes in β-carotene content correlated with cut size (though not significantly). We were also able to separate the VOC profiles from the different cut sizes indicating that VOCs may be useful markers as indicators of the effects of cut size and storage time on quality.

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Although the majority of the poems included are anonymous, a few are by known poets whose verses appealed to the popular sensibility, going from newspaper or book into the memory of the people. ' Practically all the high points of Brazilian history are represented by at least one poem; to mention a few: the Dutch invasion, the restoration, the Palmares republic, criticism of the colonial governors, droughts in the northeast, the coming of the royal family, independence, empire, regency, Peter the Second, the Paraguayan war and World War I. Each poem is accompanied by well documented explanatory notes of the author who carefully quotes his sources and appends a very helpful bibliography. After closing this book we find ourselves in agreement with Mr. Calmon that this important source of information, the poetry of the people, has been neglected by the historians of Brazil to the detriment of her history.