350 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



was natural for them to be strong mouthed and to use their hind 

 feet. 



Mr. Mapes said their disposition depended entirely upon 

 training. 



Dr. Waterbury thought more care was desirable in breaking 

 young animals, whether mules or horses, to keep their mouths 

 tender. They should be tauglit to always obey the rein. To tie 

 up colts with a bitted rein, and leave tliem thus twelve or twen- 

 ty-four hours at a time, as is usually practised, was the surest 

 way to spoil them for obeying the bit. 



MELONS. 



A fine Christina melon, of excellent flavor, high color and 

 large size, was presented by F. D. Tucker, of Eushwick, L. I. 



Dr. Stark, of Bedford, L. I., presented an orange watermelon, 

 from seed obtained from Mr. Peabody. This attracted much at- 

 tention. The rind peals off mucli like that of an orange, and 

 the internal divisions are similar to that fruit. The specimen 

 was not fully ripe; the flavor of the perfected fruit is represented 

 as delicious. 



Mr. Geissenhainer presented a Patagonian gourd about four feet 

 in length, by its largest diameter over four inches. He was 

 pleased with the taste of it, when cooked as we do egg plant. 



The Secretary observed that Lindley states that the gourds, 

 generally, are not fit for food; and that water, contained in some 

 dried gourd shells, for some time, became poisonous. 



A member asked if any one present had ever seen a dead ass 

 or mule ? 



Mr. Adrian Bergen said that he had, but they are long lived; 

 have very hard mouths; it is hard to make them go when they 

 don't please, and they are very free with their hind legs. 



Prof. Mapes — That is true, because they resent bad usage; 

 they can't bear a Connecticut rider. 



Solon Robinson — Prof. Mapes, you have mules, did you ever 

 ride one? 



Prof Mapes — No, yet his character can be made good; he 

 learns easily, but forgets soon — bad memory. His duration is 

 great. I have a pair of mules which I bought about five years 

 ago as being then forty-five years of age, and they are so still; 

 there is no alteration in them at all. They are very easy to keep. 

 They eat a thistle off the top of a measure of oats, after having 

 first eaten their beds; after that they take a shy at the oats ! 



