86 AMERICAN GARDENER. 



152. Yet, it is a received opinion, a thing taken 

 for granted, an anxiom in horticulture, that Melon 

 seed is the better for being old. Mr. MARSHALL, 

 quoted above, in paragraph 145, says, that it 

 ought to be " about four years old, though some 

 prefer it much older." And he afterwards ob- 

 serves, that " if new seed only can be had, it 

 should be carried a week or two in the breeches- 



Jiocfcety to dry away some of the more watery 

 particles !" What should we do here, where no 

 breeches are worn ! If age be a recommendation 

 in rules as well as in Melon seed, this rule has it ; 

 for, English authors published it, ajid French 

 authors laughed at it, more than a century fiast! 



153. The reader will observe, that, in England, 

 a melon is a melon; that they are not, there, 

 brought into market in wagon loads and boat 

 loads, and tossed down in immense heaps on the 

 stones ; but, are carried, by twos, or threes, and 

 with as much care as a new-born baby is carried. 

 In short, they are sold at from a dollar to four 

 dollars a piece. This alters the case. Those 

 who can afford to have melons raised in their 

 gardens, can afford to keep a conjuror to raise 

 them; and a conjuror will hardly condescend to 

 follow common sense in his practice. This would 

 be lowering the profession in the eyes of the vul- 

 gar; and, which would be very dangerous, in the 

 eyes of his employer. However, a great deal 

 of this stuffis traditionary ; and a was observed 

 before, how are we to find the conscience to 

 blame a gardener for errors inQulcated by gen- 

 tlemen of erudition ! 



154. I cannot dismiss this part of my subject 

 without cmee more caution ing the reader against 



