The Gardener's New Diri-ctok. 115 

 An>l when the female is deprived of the taritia oi the 

 male blodoms, which is as necefTary to the generation 

 of plants, as tl\e feed of animals is to the propapjation of 

 their refpeclivt fpecies, your expectation mull !ai! of 

 courfe. 



When the blofloins are all over, and the fruit ad- 

 vances in magnitude, lay a piece of glafs or tyle under 

 each Melon, to keep it from the earth. And if the 

 weather fhould prove miid give them a good watering. 

 This will cauie them to iwell apace. And frefh air 

 Hiould he admitted at ail opportunities when the w-ather 

 is fine. 



Should you find the heat of the bed to abate and de- 

 cline, add a freili lining of new dung, as before direct- 

 ed. And it may he reqnifite to repeat this two or three 

 times. For the fruit will be furprifingly forwarded in a 

 little time by kecpng up a proper warmth. And when 

 it is about three parts grown, turn it every four or five 

 days, that each part may receive equally the benefit 

 of the fun. And remember, that when it is full grown, 

 it muH: not be watered ; for that would confiderably re- 

 tard its ripening, and in a great meafure rob it ot the 

 riclinefs of its flavour. 



Many eminent gardeners have a cuflom (and by no 

 means a bad one) of placing the fruit when it is full 

 grown upon bricks. This has fome good effe6t<; : For 

 it raifcs them above the leaves, whereby they are fully 

 expofcd to the fun and air, and the flems are fecured 

 from rotting. 



When the Melon hecins to turn yellow, and to crack 

 at the part which is affixed to the ftalk, and to diffu'ea 

 fine fmell, it is then ripe and fit for cutting. 1 or if it 

 be fulFered to remain on the vine a day or two after 

 thefe appearances, it will lofe much of its flavour. Let 

 it be cut in the morning before the fun lliines upon it, 

 ajid kept in a cool place, till it is wanteil for the Table. 



This is the whole management for ycuir firft crops of 

 Melons, from the fowing of the feed to the maturity of 

 liie fruit. And your oblervance of the rules laid down 

 for it, will fufficientiv compen'ate your attention to 

 il.cm. But it is necefTary that I fhould give fome fiir- 

 tiicr dir'jftions for raifing the late crops. 



1 a The 



