250 



seems to have been the earliest English 

 author, who gives directions for making hot- 

 beds for melons, and covering them with bell 

 glasses, which was in 1629. 



Madame de Genlis relates, that, " the 

 master of Lockman, the famous fabulist, who 

 was a slave, having given him a bitter melon, 

 was astonished to see him eat the whole of it; 

 and, on naming his surprise, received this 

 answer: ' I have experienced so many benefits 

 from you/ said Lockman, ' that it cannot be 

 strange that I should have eaten without com- 

 plaint the first bitter fruit which you ever 

 presented me with/ This answer so affected 

 his master, that he gave Lockman his li- 

 berty." 



