348 THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
M 7 etna. is A 
small flowers are borne, tubular in form, and red or 
rose-coloured ” (Castle, “ Cactaceous Plants“). The spe- 
cies generally grow in exceedingly dry, rocky or sandy 
situations. The one most generally cultivated is M. com- 
munis, which is very difficult to grow with anything 
approaching success. Essential elements in its culture 
are a high temperature, very porous soil, plenty of 
drainage, and but little water. See also Cactus. 
M. communis (common). Melon Cactus; Turk’s Cap. A. rosy- 
red, tubular, lin. long. Stems from lft. to 14ft. high, 1ft. in 
diameter; ridges from twelve to twenty, lin. to Izin. deep, 
conical, bearing clusters of eight or nine ae jin. to lin. long. 
West Indies, 1 See Fig. 539. (B. M. . 
(depressed). fl. rose- coloured. July. fr. a club- 
shaped berry, about lin. aoe Stem depresso-conical, not more 
than bin. across, with rounded sides; ribs about ten, acute, each 
bearing four or five clusters of strong, spreading, pale brown or 
ashen-green spines, five to seven in a cluster; at the summit of 
the stem is a short crown, less than jin. high, and about 2in. in 
diameter, of woolly substance, filled with exserted red aculei. 
Pernambuco. (B. M. 3691.) 
Ellemeetii (Ellemeet’s). f. rose-colour, rather small. Stems 
ovoid, depressed, ten-ribbed; ribs separated by broad sinuses ; 
- ines seven or eight, rather short, similar. Bahia, Brazil, 
Schlumbergerianus (Schlumberger's). This cies forms 
a globular, glaucescent, furrowed mass, about Gin. in diameter, and 
as much in po ce the angles are fifteen in number, elevated 
about lin., and bear clusters of about nine radiating spines, 
which are white, with black points ; the terminating tuft, or cap, 
is about lin. high and 2in. broad. St. Thomas’ Island, 1861. 
MELODINUS (from melon, an apple, and dineo, 
to turn round ; referring to the shape of the fruit). 
Syns. Bicorona, Lycimnia. ORD. Apocynacee. A genus 
comprising abont fifteen species of woody-stemmed, often 
climbing, „stove shrubs, natives of the East Indies, 
South China, the Malay Archipelago, the Islands of 
the Pacific, and tropical Australia. Flowers white, often 
fragrant, disposed in short terminal cymes ; corolla with 
a cylindrical tube, and five oblique or sickle-shaped, 
spreading lobes; the mouth of the tube furnished with 
a coronet composed of five to ten small erect scales, 
Fruit a globose two-celled berry, pulpy inside. Leaves 
opposite, penniveined. The only species yet intro- 
duced is the one here described. For culture, see 
M. r. Jl. white, fragrant ; icles i 
and terminal, sub-globular, brachiate, crowded. — ; Je meid 
ag toner ; Lew! size of — aaen containing an edible pulp. 
. lanceolate, shining, acuminated Northern and i 
1820. (B. M. 2527; B. R. 834.) z oe 
MELOLONTHA VULGARIS. See Cockchafers. 
MELON (Cucumis Melo). The Melon produces the 
richest and most highly valued fruit of any plant in 
the family to which it belongs, and its crop is one of 
the most important each year for dessert and other 
purposes. It is supposed to be a native of the hotter 
tifully i i. East, where Melons grow plen- 
y in the open air, the fruit forms one of the chief 
articles of food for the inhabitants. 
Melon—continued. 
In this country, 
where success is rarely attainable without glass houses, 
or frames, and artificial heat, the product is, in conse- 
quence, one of comparative luxury. The Melon is a 
trailing plant, unless trained to cover trellises, &c., when, 
by the use of its numerous tendrils in retaining a hold, 
it becomes partially self-supporting as a climber it is of 
annual duration. The flowers are mondecious, and are 
produced in the axils of the leaf-stalks (see Fig. 540), 
the males being by far the most numerous of the 
two sexes. Plants only succeed well during the summer, 
when there is plenty of light and sun for ripening the 
fruits, and causing them to attain the highest flavour. 
The season for the best fruits is, therefore, limited 
to the six months beginning with May; and, for the 
‘earliest crops, preparations must commence in January, 
or early in February. It is advisable to sow a few 
seeds, from this time until July, at intervals of about 
three weeks, as various circumstances may tend to 
render one or more batches useless, and then others 
will be ready to take their place in a short time 
afterwards. Melons are raised in any quantity, from 
seeds, and it is very important that these should 
be obtained from a reliable source. Where numerous 
varieties, or even any number beyond one, are grown 
together, there is a danger of the flowers becoming 
naturally or artificially cross-fertilised ; and, again, if 
good specimens of fruit are not selected for seed-bear- 
ing, deterioration soon takes place. The seeds are best 
placed singly, or two each, in small pots, with a view, in 
the latter instance, of removing the weakest plant in 
due course. A compost of loam and leaf soil is most 
suitable, and the pots should be plunged in a frame where 
there is a bottom heat of about 75deg. Considerable 
attention is requisite in the early part of the year, in 
respect of inuring young plants to air and light, with 
a view to getting them strong before being permanently 
planted. So soon as the first leaf appears, beyond 
those produced by the seed, the plants are generally fit 
for repotting. This operation should be carefully per- 
formed, to avoid injuring the tender roots, and the soil, 
before being used, should, for the same reason, be 
placed where it can become warm throughout. Allow- 
ing seedling Melons to become starved in their pots, 
before planting, is a bad system, unfortunately too com- 
monly practised. It is far better to sow frequently, 
and plant only such as are healthy, and in a free-grow- 
ing state, discarding others as soon as it is known they 
will not be required. 
Soil. Melons succeed best in a rather strong, heavy 
loam, which should be of a friable, rather than of an 
adhesive, nature. Some growers recommend cutting 
turf, 3in. thick, from a pasture, breaking it in pieces, 
and using at once; while the more general 
plan, in gardens, is, perhaps, that of re- 
serving a small stack purposely for grow- 
ing Melons and a few other plants, such 
as pot Strawberries, which require similar 
heavy soil. A little well-rotted manure 
is sometimes added, but it should only be 
sparingly applied, or the soil may become 
rich, and induce an over-luxuriant 
growth. The better plan is to give manure 
water after a crop of fruit is set, or to 
substitute a richer compost as a top-dress- 
ing, if an additional one is required, at 
the same period. The soil for Melons 
should be rammed very firm before plant- 
ing time, or when an addition is made 
round their roots. It matters little how hard the bulk 
8 made; roots readily permeate the whole, if kept 
quite moist, as it should be—at least, till the fruits 
begin to ripen. 
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