258 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



every thing relating to forcing fruits, to furnish 

 directions for growing melons ; likewise the most 

 approved methods of forcing strawberries; to 

 which will be added some useful remarks, for 

 forcing ornamental plants, in the various depart- 

 ments of the forcing houses ; with directions for 

 raising many useful articles for culinary pur- 

 poses. 



NATURE OF THE MELON PLANT, ITS CULTURE, 

 AND DESCRIPTION OF THE FRUIT. 



Par. 45. The melon plant, which is one of the 

 most tender belonging to our kitchen garden, is 

 an annual of slender trailing growth, and upon 

 these long slender herbaceous vines, they produce 

 fruit remarkable for its size and richness of fla- 

 vour ; indeed by many it is held in quite as great 

 estimation as the pine ; therefore an account of 

 its culture will not be contrary to the spirit of 

 this work, and more particularly as the melon 

 cannot be brought to anything like perfection 

 without the assistance of hotbeds ; and by the 

 directions which will be hereafter given, the 

 fruit can be produced in perfection in May and 



