THEORY OF VEGETATION. 355 



iriore foliage cannot be exposed to the light. No part of the Importance of 



full grown leaves should ever be destroyed before the fruit es 



is gathered, unless they injure each other, by being too 



touch crowded together; for each leaf, when full grown, 



however distant from the fruit, and growing on a distinct 



branch of the plant, still contributes to its support; and 



hence it arises, that when a plant has as great a number of 



growing fruit upon part of its branches, as it is capable of 



feeding, the blossoms upon other branches, which extend 



in an opposite direction, prove abortive. 



The variety of melon, which I exclusively cultivate, is The variety 

 little known in this country, and was imported from Salonica 

 by Mr. J. Hawkins. It's form is nearly spherical, when the 

 fruit is most perfect, and without any depressions upon its 

 surface : its colour approaching to that of gold, and its flesh 

 perfectly white. It requires a much greater state of matu- 

 rity than any other variety of its species, and continues to 

 improve in flavour and richness, till it becomes externally 

 soft, and betrays some symptoms of incipient decay. The 

 Consistence of its flesh is then nearly that of a water melon, 

 and it is so sweet, that few will think it improved by the 

 addition of sugar. The weight of a good melon of this 

 variety is about seven pounds. I send some seeds of it to 

 be distributed amongst such members of the Horticultural 

 Society, as may wish to receive them. 



VIII. 



Some Remarks on Pruning and Draining standard jppfo 

 and Pear Trees. By Mr. John Maher, F. H. S* 



•Wi 



E often see apple and pear trees, both in gardens and Apple and 

 orchards, not only crowded too closely together, but so P ear tre - s °° m ~ 



1 J j c 7 momvtoo thiqk 



loaded with their own branches, that very little fruit is pro- and crowded. 

 duced ; and that which is produced is rendered greatly infe- 

 rior in size and flavour to what it would be under different 

 management. 



* Trans, of the Hort. Soc. vol. I, p. 236. 



2 B 2 Directions 



