October 24, 1878. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
315 
Hero of Bath, Conqueror of Europe, and Bloxholm Hall. 
Green-flesh: Bromham Hall, Eastnor Castle, A. F. Barron, 
and Exquisite. White-flesh: Colston Basset, Cox’s Golden 
Gem, Meredith’s Hybrid Cashmere, and Queen Emma, All 
exceed 2 tbs. in weight. Toa Melon of less weight we would 
not award a prize, nor test them when shown for flavour; 
miserable, ill-shaped, badly-grown fruit would not then be so 
frequently exhibited. 
As to what a good Melon should be, I beg to submit—first, 
it should not be less in weight than 2 tbs. Second, it should 
be regular in shape, round or oval ; if round, flattened at the 
stalk and opposite point like an Orange ; if oval, the ends blunt 
or flattened, free from ribs or carbuncles or other irregularity 
of surface except netting, which should be even and extend 
over the whole surface ; or if smooth it should be so through- 
out, or if only partly netted the netting should be confined to 
the stalk and point ends of the fruit. Third, colour regular 
throughout. Fourth, aroma not very powerful, the less the 
better, as it is given off in proportion to the softness or hard- 
ness of the rind—the harder it is the richer will be the fruit. 
Fifth, the heavier the fruit in proportion to its size the thicker 
it will be in flesh and higher in flavour. Those are the external 
characteristics of a good Melon. Such will have hard thin 
rinds, the flesh will extend to the centre of the fruit, and the 
seeds be embedded in the flesh without forming a hollow or 
seed cavity ; the seeds will be comparatively few in number, 
there will be little or no watery juice in the centre as in those 
with a hollow or large seed cavity ; the rind should not be 
less than an eighth of an inch in thickness nor exceed a 
auarter of an inch; the flesh tender, melting, and juicy quite 
down to the rind, with a rich sugary, musky, but agreeable, 
refreshing flavour. 
It must be admitted that some ribbed Melons are thick in 
flesh and rich in flavour, but I find it yery much more difficult 
to obtain by cross-breeding a Melon without ribs than with ; 
and as ribs and pointed fruit with carbuncles only increase 
the quantity of the useless part—i.c., rind surface, it is only 
proper to reduce them to a minimum and seek to secure a 
maximum of usefulness, or secure flesh in place of useless 
exterior surface and hollow seed cavities. ‘The vagaries of 
Melons obtained by cross-breeding are very remarkable. One 
instance will suffice. Beechwood x Read’s x Victory of Bath 
has given a smooth, slightly ribbed, and netted scarlet flesh ; 
a large, bluntly-oval, very closely netted green-flesh; and a 
large, round, ribbed, handsomely netted fruit, with thick green 
flesh, pronounced out of 150 fruit the best of the season ; but 
the raiser thinks differently, rather regarding it as the worst 
out of over a dozen unnamed yarieties. I mention this to 
show how cross-bred Melons run, also how tastes vary. 
The varieties of Melons are so numerous and sport so much 
that it is not surprising to find so many of the prizes of the 
year being taken by seedlings, especially as there is no other 
test for the fruit but flavour. All the varieties named haye 
won prizes, and many others named and unnamed—some 
positively ugly, more like Gourds, Marrows, and Pumpkins 
than fruit for dessert; yet it must be said some of the alleged 
new kinds are really beautiful in appearance and of unques- 
tionable quality. One Melon we have omitted, but it ought 
not, being as it is one of the best—viz., Golden Perfection, it 
being a green-flesh of the highest excellence. 
At the Crystal Palace Show in scarlet-flesh an unnamed 
seedling was first, Read’s second, and Scarlet Gem third. In 
green-flesh an unnamed variety was first, Golden Perfection 
second, and Exquisite third.—A. 
CAPE HEATHS.—No. 10. 
OCTOBER. 
ALTHOUGH these plants have been removed to their winter 
quarters long ago, yet the splendid open dry autumn we have 
experienced has not necessitated any protection whatever. 
Those in frames with us have had the lights all off, whilst in 
the case of larger specimens in the house every means of yen- 
tilation has been resorted to in order to admit the soft balmy 
air so beneficial to these plants during the present month. 
Mildew should almost be unknown, but still attention should 
be given that it does not creep in unawares and spoil the 
beauty and symmetry of the plants. Pay great attention to 
watering. Never give water when the plants are not dry, 
and when it is given let it be in sufficient quantity to wet the 
whole soil thoroughly. 
Erica arbuscula—aA dense-growing beautiful little plant, 
specially welcome at this season. Leaves short, spreading. 
Flowers terminal on the small branches, pitcher-shaped, red. 
E. mammosa (fig. 50, page 310).—A most usefal plant for: 
decoration at this season. Free in growth, with linear subu- 
late leaves arranged in fours, which are smooth, erect, and 
dark green. Flowers produced in long terminal whorls, wholly 
deep reddish purple. 
LE. princeps coccinea.—This yariety usually blooms carlier 
in the season, but we have recently seen it in great beauty. 
Leaves linear, hirsute, fringed at the edges with ciliate hairs, 
deep green. Flowers long and tubular, produced in large: 
terminal umbels, bright scarlet in colour. 
LE. exsurgens coccinea.—Leaves arranged in fours, subulate, 
erect, and bright green. Flowers three times the length of 
the leaves, tubular, rich orange-scarlet in colour. The stamens 
ee exserted and very conspicuous, adding much to the generat. 
effect. 
EL. caffra.—A neat compact-growing plant and an abundank 
bloomer, Leaves dense and bright green. Flowers small, 
Fig. 52.—Erica gracilis autumnalis. 
pure white, and very fragrant, which fully compensates for its 
want of size. 
L. cwviflora.—An elegant free-flowering species, which gives: 
us a colour quite dissimilar to the majority of species at this’ 
season. Leaves linear, smooth, arranged in fours. Flowers 
curved, tubular, and clear yellow, terminal on the small 
branches, forming long racemes. 
5 #. Bowieana.—Leayes arranged in threes, glaucous, spread-- 
ing, and distant. Flowers axillary, pendulous, white. The 
flowering shoots continue to lengthen for a long time, thus 
producing a succession of its charming blooms. 
E. colorans (fig. 51, page 314).—A close-growing handsome 
species. Leaves arranged in sixes, hirsute, and deep green~ 
Flowers terminal on the short laterals, forming long and’ 
dense racemes ; colour white, changing with age to red. 
L. grandinosa.—Leavyes arranged in threes, linear, smooth,. 
and bright green. Flowers also in threes, freely produced, 
ovate, pendulous, and pure white. This species usually blooms: 
twice in the year—viz., spring and autumn. 
EE. versicolor longiflora.A very handsome variety, differing 
from the species in the greater length of its flowers and in its: 
season of blooming. Leaves in threes, linear, obtuse, smooth, 
and deep green. Flowers mostly in threes, terminal upon the 
small branches, tubular, with open mouth; colour orange 
and red: 
E, gracilis autwmnalis (fig. 52),.— Leaves small, linear, 
smooth, and dark green. Flowers reddish purple, produced 
