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The Musk Melon appears to be a native 

 of Tartary, where it is found growing wild. 

 It has lately been found in great abun- 

 dance on the sandy plains in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Jeypoor. This kind of melon 

 has long been cultivated in Italy, from 

 whence I conclude it was brought to Eng- 

 land, as it was first introduced into this 

 country in the year that Henry the Eighth 

 received the title of " Defender of the Faith/' 

 A. D. 1520: and from Gerard's account it 

 appears to have been nearly confined to the 

 Royal Gardens : he had not grown it himself, 

 but says, " They delight in hot regions, not- 

 withstanding I have seen, at the Queen's house 

 at St. James's, very many of this sort ripe, 

 through the diligent and curious nourishing 

 of them by a skilful gentleman, the keeper 

 of the said house, called Master Fovvle; and 

 in other places neere unto the Right Honour- 

 able, the Lord of Sussex house, of Bermond- 

 sey, by London, where from yeere to yeere 

 there is verie great plenty, especially if the 

 weather be any thing temperate." " It hath," 

 adds Gerard, " the smell of musk, and from 

 which account it is called the Musk Melon." 



It is stated in Gough's British Topo- 

 graphy, that melons were common in this 

 country as early as the time of Edward the 



