MUSK KOIITUS JAMArCEXSI3. &S3- 



the root suffer l-,_y it. Twice or thrice a week is often enough to water in the driest 

 weather, and this must always be done about sunset ; and wiien tlie heat of the sun is 

 too violent tiic melons must be covered. When it rains much they imist also be co- 

 vered. If ihe root produce too many l;-anches, tlie weakest are to be cut off, and only 

 three or four left ; and tiiose which are left are to be such as have their knots closest 

 to one another. When the plants arc remo\ed from the seed bed to tlie places where 

 ihey are to stand, if they arc very strong, they should be planted single ; but if other- 

 wise, two are to be set in eacli hole. 



When they are planted single, the two branches, which always grow on each side 

 from the base of the seed leaves, areto be left on ; but when two plants are set toge- 

 ther, these branches are to be cut off, otherwise all the branches will be too numerous, 

 and they will entangle and spoil one another. ' 



When the melons are knit, two of them only are to be left on each foot, choosinp- 

 those which are best placed, ami next to the first and principal stalk, that is, to the 

 lieart of the foot. None but i'air fruits are to be left, and such as have a thick and short 

 tail ; and the foot of the melon must be short, well trussed, and not far distant from the 

 ground. Melons of a long-stem, and having the stalk of the leaf too long and slender^ 

 are never vigorous. All tlie superfluous branches must be cut olF from time to time, as 

 they shoot out. Tiiere sometimes shoots out a branch more than is here mentioned, 

 between the two seed leaves or cars. If this is strong ami vigorous, it is to be kept on, 

 but, if weakly, it is best to take it off, for it will never bear good. I'ruit. 



There are several varieties of the melon kind here, where they thrite exceedingly 

 Well, and' with little trouble or attention. 'The varieties consist in the shape, whetiier 

 round, oval, compressed, or long ; the roughness or smoothness of coat ; the colour 

 of the flesh, whetiier white, red, greenish, or yellowish ; and in sweetness and flavour. 

 A gentleman here, tho most curious in their cultivation, used to prepare some fine 

 mould in small baskets, in which the aoed was sown ; these baskets were set in little 

 hillocks of earth, and suffered to decay. I know not the particular reasons for this me- 

 thod, but his fruit was of a superior quality to most, i'he musk and cantelupe are 

 highest in esteem, grow to a large size here, and arrive at the utmost perfection, par- 

 ticularly the latter kind with a greenish flesh, which (contrary to Mr Miller's observa- 

 tion, in regard to those raised in England,) is by far the richest, finest flavoured, and 

 dissolves in the mouth. The musk has no net work about it here as in England, and 

 turns very yellow. Long, 



i&e Cucumber. 



MUSK OCHRA. HIBI'^CUS. 



Gl. 16, OR. 6. Mmiiadelph-a polyandria. Nat. ok. Columnifevis, ' - 

 C^EV. Cii.\R. iJde Changeable Rose, p. i75. 



ABELMOSCHUS. MUSK-SEEDED. 



ffispidiis, foliis quinquelobis, lobis acutis, semine muscaio. Browne, 

 p. 285. 



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