Wayne Bristol, age 7, of Bessemer, Ala., for his question:

HOW MUCH OF WATERMELON IS WATER?

That delicious, refreshing tasting summertime fruit is made up of 93 percent water. It grows on a vine that spreads out 12 to 15 feet in length.

Watermelon has a hard outer shell called a rind that encloses the sweet pulp. The pulp colors to a rich red as the fruit ripens. The seeds inside the pulp may be white, brown or black. The fruits average between 20 and 35 pounds, but in some cases they may weigh as much as 60 pounds.

Watermelons grow best in sandy, moist soil. They can be planted as far north as Canada.

Leading watermelon growing states, in order, are Florida, Texas, California, Georgia and South Carolina. They were first grown in Africa and spread to southern Asia in early times.

Scientists have grown bantam size watermelons weighing five pounds and 100 pound giants.