C.H.6.] MELONS. 133 



reded for the dung hot-bed, and accord- 

 ing to the nature of the feafon, and ftate 

 of the weather, till the firft or middle of 

 September ; and by that time it will gene- 

 rally be neceflary to apply fire heat, both 

 on account of cold and damp, which then 

 begin to be confiderable. 



The fruit by this time will be far ad- 

 vanced, fome of which will be approach- 

 ing to maturity 3 and for the maturation 

 and production of the reft in a tolerable 

 degree of perfection and flavour, let flow 

 fires be made in the evenings, increafing 

 as the feaibn advances, fo as to raife the 

 air of the pit at eight at night, and eight 

 in the morning, to about 70 degrees. 



Air is eflential to the flavour of the 

 fruit ; and that it may be admitted in to- 



I 3 lerable 



whereas that of the Melon, except for pickling, is ufe* 

 lels and naufeous, until it be perfectly ripe. Now, it 

 has been ascertained, that the fruit of the cucumber 

 may be produced of a fize fit for the table, although 

 every male-bloom were deftroyed at its firft appear- 

 ance, and conlequently, the embryo fruit were not im- 

 pregnated But 1 have not yet been able, either by 

 actual experiment or otherwife, to learn, that a Melon 

 (except of one variety, a fub-hermaphrodite) could be 

 produced in perfection without being impregnated. 



