530 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Melocactus—continued. 
Propagation may be effected by means of seeds, which 
usually follow quickly after the flowers produced on 
cultivated specimens; also by means of offsets, which are 
formed about the base of the stem if the top of a growing 
plant is cut out. As the cap is the most remarkable part 
of M. communis, the purchase of large imported stems, in 
preference to young ones raised from seeds, is recom- 
mended; for, as the cap does not form till the stem 
attains a large size, there would be small hope of seedlings 
reaching the flowering stage during a lifetime. 
To the species described on p. 348, Vol. II. the 
following should be added : 
M. latispinus (broad-spined). 
cornigerus. 
A synonym of Echinocactus 
Fic. 568. MeLocactus MIQUELI. 
M. Miquelii (Miquel’s). . unknown. Stem oval, dark green ; 
ribs fourteen, well defined; spines in small tufts of eight or 
nine, short, blackish-brown, less than 4in. long, one central, the 
others radiating ; cap cylindrical, 3in. high, 14in. in diameter, 
composed of layers of snow-white threads, mixed with short, 
reddish bristles. St. Croix, West Indies. See Fig. 568. 
The following have been introduced to Continental gardens, or 
are described in books, but are not in general cultivation in this 
country: M. amenus, M. goniodacanthus, M. humilis (R. G. 1897, 
t. 1439), WM. Lehmanni, M. pyramidalis, M. Zuccarini. 
MELON. Occasionally Melons in this country, in 
common with other Cucurbitucer, are attacked by a 
destructive form of Mildew (Peronospora (Plasmopara) 
cubensis). In America, however, the disease is very rife 
and spread over a wide geographical area. The under- 
surface of the foliage is the part attacked, and the 
appearance it presents is not unlike that produced by 
the well-known Downy Mildew of the Vine. Generally 
the leayes have a sickly and an unhealthy look—brown 
or yellow, and spotted—and are shed. Directly the 
disease is noted, sprayings with weak Bordeaux Mixture 
or with sulphide of potassium should be made. Further, 
all decayed and decaying leaves should be collected and 
burned. This disease was known as far back as Berkeley’s 
time, but it does not appear to have caused much anxiety 
amongst growers. 
Varieties. To the varieties enumerated in Vol. II., 
p. 351, the following should be added in their respective 
classes : é 
Class I. Green and White-fleshed. 
Ingestre Hybrid. Fruit medium, of a beautiful golden- 
yellow, with prominent netting; flesh white, melting, very 
juicy, and of exquisite flavour. 
Knowsley Favourite. Fruit medium to large; flesh green, 
melting, and of fine flavour. An early, free-setting variety. 
The Countess. Fruit medium; skin bright yellow and beauti- 
fully netted; flesh deep white, melting, and delicious in flavour. 
Melon—continued. 
Class II. Scarlet-fieshed. 
Beauty of Sion. [Fruit medium, round ; skin golden-yellow 
and nicely laced; flesh remarkably deep, juicy, melting, and 
rich in flavour. 
Masterpiece. Fruit large, finely netted; flesh very melting, 
and of fine flavour. A very free-setting variety. 
Sion House. Fruit medium, oblong; skin clear yellow and 
well netted; flesh melting, rich, and of delicious flavour. 
Sutton’s Al. Fruit Jarge, round; skin pale green and 
handsomely netted; flesh deep, juicy, and of very good 
flavour. 
Triumph. Fruit large and of fine flavour; flesh scarlet, with 
a band of green under the skin. Frequently green-fleshed 
fruits are produced on the same plants. 
MELON CACTUS. See Melocactus communis. 
MELON PUMPKIN. See Cucurbita Pepo. 
MELOTHRIA (from Melothron, the Greek name for 
Bryony). Orv. Cucurbitacer. A genus embracing about 
twenty-five species of stove, climbing herbs, with simple 
or bifid tendrils, closely allied to Zehneria, and broadly 
distributed over tropical regions. Flowers white, small, 
usually moneecious. Fruit indehiscent, globose and acute 
or fusiform and sub-rostrate. They are usually grown 
rather for their fruits than their flowers. For culture 
of the introduced species, see Gourds. 
M. abyssinica (Abyssinian). #. yellowish, very small. fr. 
orange-coloured, round, small, produced in great profusion in 
autumn. Abyssinia, 1893. Perennial. 
M.. heterophylla (variable-leaved). 
Zehneria hastata. 
M. pendula (pendulous). jl. yellow, axillary, solitary; females 
long-pedunculate; corolla slightly hairy. (fr. ovate-globular, 
pendent. 2. petiolate, cordate, with five toothed lobes. North 
America, 1752. A scabrous-pubescent annual. 
M. punctata (dotted). The correct name of Zehneria suavis. 
Syns. Z. scabra, Pilogyne suavis. 
MELVILLA. Included under Cuphea (which see), 
the correct name of M. speciosa being C. Melvilla. 
MENEGHINIA. A synonym of Arnebia (which 
The correct name of 
see). 
MENIOCUS. Included under Alyssum (which see). 
MENISCIUM. Although the genus Menisciwm 
comprises only a comparatively small number of species, 
these are sufficiently distinct to render it interesting ; the 
majority of them are strong-growing, handsome plants, but 
one at least amongst them (M. simplex) is of such small 
dimensions that it is frequently used in Fern-cases, a 
purpose for which it appears particularly well adapted. 
Nearly all Menisciums haye a beautiful venation qnite 
peculiar to them. Being swamp-loving subjects, they are 
useful for planting in Ferneries near the margin of water, 
a place where few Ferns grow very satisfactorily. They 
thrive luxuriantly in a mixture of half loam and half 
fibrous peat, with a few pieces of crocks or charcoal 
intermixed. Vhough their roots, which are of a fleshy 
and brittle nature, are fond of moisture, they have a 
great dislike to stagnant water. Menisciums are usually 
propagated by division of their crowns, but they may 
also be easily and more rapidly increased by means of 
their spores, which germinate freely when sown in a 
warm and moist position. 
M. deltigerum (delta-bearing). A synonym of Acrostichum 
virens. 
M. reticulatum. Of this species there are a few varieties, 
including macrophyllum (having large pinne) and oligophyllum 
(with few pinne). 
MENISPERMUM. To the species described on 
p. 352, Vol. II., the following should be added. Several 
plants formerly classed hereunder are now referred to 
Cocculus. 
M. dauricum (Dahurian). /. yellowish-white, in twin, 
eapitellate racemes. June. J. peltate, glabrous, cordate, 
narrowed, smaller than those of M. canadense, the angles 
acute, the terminal one acuminate but scarcely mucronate. 
h. 9ft. Dahuria. 
MENODORA (from menos, strength, and doron, a 
gift; probably in allusion to some economic quality). 
Syns. Bolivaria, Calyptrospermum. ORD. Oleacez. A 
genus embracing fourteen species of greenhouse herbs 
or under-shrubs, natives of America and Sonth Africa: 
Flowers solitary, twin, or in dichotomous panicles. 
