Pity the nouveau riche Russians who missed last week's bargain on Japanese-grown, cube-shaped watermelons at high-end Moscow markets: just $700.
上周沒(méi)去買(mǎi)方形西瓜的俄羅斯暴發(fā)戶(hù)們真是太可惜了，當(dāng)時(shí)這種日本種植的西瓜在高端市場(chǎng)上僅售700美元（約合人民幣4300元）。

But news of the novelty, a couple of weeks before the start of Russia's watermelon season, has boosted the price in recent days to around $860. That's more than 300 times the price of your standard melon.
但是對(duì)于這種新奇玩意兒的各種新聞報(bào)道讓方形西瓜的價(jià)格一下漲到了近860美元（約合人民幣5300元），這可比普通西瓜價(jià)格的300倍還多。再過(guò)兩周，俄羅斯自產(chǎn)的西瓜就要開(kāi)始上市了。

Before The Moscow Times carried an Interfax news agency report on the strange fruit, they weren't leaping out of the bins.
在莫斯科時(shí)報(bào)援引國(guó)際文傳通訊社發(fā)表的一篇關(guān)于奇特方形西瓜的報(bào)道前，這種水果還沒(méi)有那么受歡迎。

"There has been no rush," an assistant said at one of the unidentified chain's stores. A few customers had bought them "just for fun."
（當(dāng)時(shí)的報(bào)道中這樣寫(xiě)到：）“并沒(méi)人搶著買(mǎi)方形西瓜，”某所連鎖店的店員如是說(shuō)。一些顧客“只是為了好玩”而購(gòu)買(mǎi)。

Over the weekend, the price jumped about $150 as demand rose.
隨后由于需求的增加，它的價(jià)格一個(gè)周末就躥升了150美元。

How are square watermelons grown?
如何種植方形西瓜？

While the watermelon is still small on the vine, a square, tempered glass box is placed around it. When the watermelon gets bigger, it assumes the shape of the box! Just remember to use a glass or transparent mold so the sunlight can reach the watermelon on all sides.
當(dāng)藤上的西瓜還小的時(shí)候，就用一個(gè)方形的鋼化玻璃盒將它罩住。西瓜長(zhǎng)大后就成了盒子的形狀了。記得要用玻璃或者其他透明的模具，那樣陽(yáng)光才能照射到整只西瓜。

Why are square watermelons grown?
為何種植方形西瓜？

First, the square watermelons are easier to stack, which makes them easier to ship. Second, with space being an issue in crowded areas of Japan, the square watermelon is designed to fit perfectly inside smaller Japanese refrigerators.
首先，方形西瓜易于堆放，運(yùn)輸起來(lái)更方便。另外，在日本一些擁擠的場(chǎng)所，空間就成了一個(gè)重要問(wèn)題，而方形西瓜正好能放進(jìn)日本的小型冰箱，完美貼合不占空間。