246 GARDENS AND ORANGE GROUNDS OF ST. MICHAEL'S. 



(Cookia punctata), tlie Papaw (Carica papaya), tlie Malay Aj)))!*? 

 (Eugenia malacceiisis), aiul several species of Anona growinsi^ in 

 the conservatory without artificial heat, and only waiting for a 

 proper place to be })lanted out in tlie open ground. Euphoria 

 Longana Avas in flower when I left St, Michael's. 



Melons, water and other kinds, are abundant during the summer 

 and autumn montlis. The manner of cultivating them is as fol- 

 lows : — The ground is deeply trenched in April, after which holes 

 are dug tMo feet deep and eight feet apart, the rows being the 

 same distance ; some rich manure is thrown into the holes and 

 mixed with the soil. In this state they remain for a week or ten 

 days, the manure and soil being stirred up two or three times 

 during this interval. Two or three inches of soil are tiien spread 

 over the mixture, and the seeds sown ; a kind of basin is formed 

 to protect the young plants from strong winds, which often blow 

 in tlie end of April and beginning of May. As the plants grow 

 they are thinned out, and the earth round them is drawn up and 

 pressed firmly about the neck and roots of the plants that remain 

 after thinning. Tliis operation is performed two or three times, 

 after which, with the exception of spreading out the shoots and 

 cleaning, they are left to themselves. The varieties of Melon 

 grown are " legion ;" every one leaving the island on a visit returns 

 with some new kind, wliich is generally sown along with the old 

 sorts. In fact, so numerous are the plots of Melon ground that it 

 would be impossible to prevent intermixture of the sorts taking 

 place. I adopted the English method of stopping the shoots, and 

 was more successful than my neighbours. The Water Melon 

 nuist be allowed to run like a Vegetable Marrow, or no success 

 will attend its cultivation. The heaviest JMelon I produced was 

 A kind of Beechwood, weighing 1 1 lbs. and of delicious flavour ; 

 the heaviest "Water Melon 22 lbs. The latter variety is a uni- 

 versal favourite with the Portuguese, serving as food, at the same 

 time quenching their thirst, and furnishing a wash for their faces. 

 Cucumbers grow successfully treated in the same manner. 



On arriving at St. Michael's, one of the first things I did was 

 to erect a pine-pit, which I made on tiie same principle as the 

 latest erected at Chatsworth. I adopted the planting-out system, 

 having a lining in the front, and a stone path at the back, for 

 convenience of watering, &c. 



At this time I had not experienced an Azorean winter ; and 

 perceiving tliat material for making linings was likely to be 

 scarce, as few horses were kept on the establishment, I saw it was 

 quite necessary that some other precaution should be taken to 

 insure bottom heat for my Pines. Neither boilers nor hot water 

 pipes could bo procured in the island ; bricks were not manufac- 

 liired, being prohibited by the Portuguese government. At last 



