On cultivatijig a7id jn-eserving Ginger. 577 



the scarlet and green flesh, planted and trained as above, 

 the produce of which is from 2 to 6 lbs. But my principal 

 crop is from the black rock, which I have grown of all sizes 

 up to 13^ lbs. weight: the plants are much more hardy than 

 many other sorts, it is a good bearer, the fruit is handsome, 

 and the flavour excellent. The sort which I grew so large 

 last year was originally from France, and in its primeval state 

 was a rock ; but it has lately been strongly impregnated with 

 the scarlet flesh, which fruit it now resembles in all its 

 characters, except in growing much lai'ger. The largest 

 melon weighed 24^ lbs., and the other 22 lbs. ; they both 

 grew upon two laterals produced by the vine, trained to 

 the front of the frame. The mice destroyed a fruit upon the 

 back vine of the size of 5 or 6 lbs. The smallest fruit was 

 sent to the Horticultural Society, and 1 received a letter of 

 thanks from the secretary : the flavour was said to be excel- 

 lent, and the other also was described in the same way. 

 This last fruit under the treatment of swelling off", from the 

 time of syringing at night to giving air the next morning, I 

 once in particular noticed, and found it had gained 1^ in. in 

 circumference. The above is my general practice of culti- 

 vating the melon, and a practice to which I shall still continue 

 to adhere, unless fully convinced that I can adopt a better, 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Taplo'w Lodge, Jem. 15. 1830. J. Holland. 



Art. XII. On cultivating and preserving Ginger. By Zingiber. 



Sir, 



In the beginning of March I pot my ginger in small 32s, 

 the compost I use being equal quantities of loam, rotten 

 dung, and leaf mould, well mixed together, but not sifted. 

 As soon as I have potted it, I give a little water to settle the 

 soil, and then place it in a nursery or stove, watering very 

 sparingly until it begins to grow, when it will require a regular 

 supply. About the 1st of May I remove it to a deep pit, 

 previously prepared with about 2 ft. of half-spent tan in the 

 bottom ; upon that about 1 8 in. of the same compost as that 

 in which 1 potted the roots. I then turn the plants out of 

 the pots, and plant them a foot apart each way, and from 

 4 ft. to 6 ft. from the glass, giving them a little water immedi- 

 ately, and closing the pit. At the back of the pit my plants 

 have generally attained the height of 6 ft. ; and those in the 

 front, for want of space upwards, have bent and sometimes 



Vol. VII. — No. 34. pp 



