SECT* XV. OF ESCULENTS. 43 



ones it is of little use to; yet this assistance should 

 be adopted for thejirst crop, to help whiten. 



Lettuces are sometimes sown thick to draw young 

 for small sallading ; for which purpose, the lap and 

 cabbage lettuces are the properest, as they eat ten- 

 derer and sweeter in their infant state : the lap seed 

 sort is very cheap, and chiefly is that which is used. 

 MELON there is a variety of/ in size, shape, coat, 

 and colour of the flesh. The sorts we best suc- 

 ceed with are the musk, (or common oblong 

 ribbed melon) the Roman, -the Portugal, and the 

 Cantaleupes in variety, as the common rock, the 

 black, the orange, and the silver. The Roman and 

 Portugal are small, but early. The Cantaleupes are 

 justly the most admired fruit, but are not so good 

 bearers as the others. 



The seed brought from the continent (where me- 

 lons are much finer than in England) seldom suc- 

 ceeds here. Whoever sows it, must not begin 

 too early, must use more heat, and give less 

 water than is necessary for Denizens. See, Of rais- 

 ing Melons, p. 203. 



ONION, we have several sorts, but the Strasburgh 

 (oval shaped) is that mostly cultivated, as it keeps 

 the best. The silver skinned and Spanish (flat shaped) 

 are milder, and therefore by some preferred. The 

 Welch sort does not bulb, and it is rank; but for its 

 being very hardy, is sown thick in August, and suf- 

 fered to stand so for winter and spring use, as a 

 green substitute for others. At this time, abo, some 

 of the Strasburgh may be sown, and perhaps stand 

 the winter in a good situation. The Welch onion is 

 not only hardy, but perennial. They are apt to die 

 down in winter, but the roots shoot again ; which, 

 when they begin to- do, if earthed over an inch, or 

 so, they will blanch, come forwarder, and eat the 

 milder. 



