MEL 



[ 594 ] 



MEN 



which are used for forcing rhubarb, &c., 

 in the winter." Gardeners' Chronicle. 



Culture of the Persian kinds. These 

 are much more tender than the ordi- 

 nary green-fleshed melons ; they will 

 not endure so low a temperature, and 

 neither will they thrive in so moist an 

 atmosphere. A high authority, speak- 

 ing of the Persian melons, has thus 

 observed : " They are found to require 

 a very high temperature, a dry atmo- 

 sphere, and an extremely humid soil, 

 Avliile they are at the same time im- 

 patient of an undue supply of moisture, 

 which causes spottings and decay long 

 before the fruit is ripe." 



We are informed that in Persia, 

 where the melon grows in the open 

 fields, that the ground where they are j 

 cultivated is crossed in various ways by j 

 streams, between which the melons | 

 are placed on raised beds highly ma- j 

 mired. It would seem, therefore, that ; 

 in order to excel in their culture, the 

 following may be taken as maxims : < 

 1 st. The brightest of glass is i*equisite, '. 

 to admit every ray possible of the sun- 

 light. '2nd. A very high atmospheric 

 temperature must be sustained, and 

 especially in order that the cultivator i 

 may be enabled to ventilate freely, to j 

 prevent the accumulation of damp, j 

 .')rd. A rich soil, dry in its upper sur- 

 face, but rather moist beneath. It is 

 urged by those who have been success- 

 ful iii their culture, that they should be 

 trained on trellises ; and there is no 

 doubt the opinion is correct. They 

 may, however, be trained against the 

 back walls of stoves, or grown in large 

 pots, to which in due time a dish of 

 water may be affixed, and the shoots 

 trained on portable trellises. 



We will conclude with a few general 

 remarks. The foliage of melons, of 

 whatever kind, should never be ruffled 

 or disturbed; training and stopping, 

 therefore, must be attended to in due 

 time. Melons should not be encou- 

 raged to become luxuriant until a crop 

 of fruit commences swelling; after 

 this, it is almost impossible to encou- 

 rage them too much. Again, they 

 should never be watered indiscrimi- 

 nately overhead, after the manner of 

 cucumbers, unless it be some of the 



ordinary green-flesh kinds, during 

 periods of continued heat and a dry 

 atmosphere. 



Diseases. These are few properly 

 so called except the gum and canker, 

 and those are mostly engendered by 

 wounds or braises on gross subjects, 

 producing a sort of vegetable gan- 

 grene. When such occurs, it is a good 

 plan to place a slate, tile, or piece of 

 glass, beneath the affected part, and to 

 pile a mixture of quick lime three 

 parts, and charcoal dust one part, in a 

 hillock around and above the wound, 

 changing the same when it becomes 

 damp. 



Insects. See Acatus, Aphis, and 

 Thrips. 



MELON PUMPKIN. Curcu'bita vnelo- 

 p'cpo. 



MELON THISTLE. Meloca'ctns. 



MELON TUEK'S CAP. Meloca'ctu scorn - 

 mu'nis. 



MEME'CYLON. (Dioscorides name 

 for the fruit of the Arbutus. Nat. ord., 

 Melastomads [Melastomacere]. Linn., 

 S-Octandria \-Monogynia. Allied to 

 Mouriria.) 



The berries of M. edttle are eatable, but not 

 very good. Stove evergreens. Cuttings of shoots, 

 in sand, under a glass, in heat ; loam and peat, 

 with a good portion of sand, and pieces of char- 

 coal. Winter temp., 50 to 55 ; summer, 60 

 to 85. 



M. angula'tum (angled). 3. Purple. May. 

 Mauritius. 1826. 



capitella'tum (small-headed;. 4. July. East 



Indies. 1796. 



gra'nde (large). Blue. May. East Indies. 



1824. 



edu'le (eatable). 10. Purple. Ceylon. 1820. 



MENASTE'LMA. (From nienc, the 

 inoon, and stelmrt, a crown ; referring 

 to the shape of the heads of flowers, 

 Nat. ord., Asdcpiads [Asclepiadaoere]. 

 Linn., b-Pcntandria %-Jtigynia.) 



Stove evergreen twiner. Cuttings of the 

 younpr shoots when three inches long, taken off 

 close to the stem, in sand, under a glass, and in 

 bottom heat ; peat and loam. Winter tern])., 

 55 to 60 ; summer, 60 to 80. 



M. parviflo'rum (small-flowered). 6. Green, 

 white. West Indies. 



MENIO'CUS. (From mene, the moon, 

 and okkos, the eye ; referring to llu- 

 shape of the seed-pod. Nat. ord., Cru- 

 cifers [Brassicacepe]. . Linn., lf)-7V/>v/- 

 dynamia. Allied to Anbretin.. ) 



