348 GILBERT WHITE'S GARDEN KALENDAR. 



I have made trials several times of Tanners bark for raising 

 of Melons, and sometimes have had good success with it, but 

 I have found in hot dry seasons the plants of Cantaleupe have 

 hung their leaves, and sometimes their roots have perished 

 before all the fruit were ripe : so that I prefer good dung for 

 the heat and a proper depth of Loam for the roots to strike 

 into, but this, in my situation, is very difficult to procure ; for 

 we have very little Loam within a reasonable distance. 



I do not know if you have seen the last edition of the 

 Gardeners Dictionary, which has been published in weekly 

 numbers and is now almost finished ; in which there are all 

 the improvements that have come to my knowledge in the 

 culture of the Cantaleupe Melon ; there is also a plan of a 

 small stove for Pines, which is not very expensive to erect, 

 and where Tan and Fuel are cheap, may be maintained for a 

 small annual sum. 



If in any thing I can contribute to your laudable pleasure 

 you may freely command, Sir, 



Your most obedient humble servant, 



PHILIP MILLER. 



Chelsea, Feb. 14, 1759. 



P.S. Your letter did not come to Chelsea till yesterday. 



GARDEN KALENDAR, 



MAY IST, 1759, 



May 1 st . Pulled away the hedge round the fir-quincunx, 

 and hoed the ground clean. 



2. The Hanger out in full leaf; but much banged about by 

 the continual strong east wind that has blown for many days. 

 The buds and blossoms of all trees much injured by the wind. 

 The ground parch'd and bound very hard. The cold air 



