MINT* 



and all dead leaves. Stir the surface of the mould, and 

 renew it partially by three inches' depth of fresh compost. 

 Water the plants copiously, shutting down the glasses for 

 the night. Shade in the middle of hot days ; and give bui 

 little air, until the plant has made new radicles and shoots. 

 Afterwards repeat the course of culture above described^ 

 from the stage when the first runners are sent out till fruit 

 is cut." — Loudon, 



Insects and diseases. — To prevent melon-plants from be- 

 ing infested with insects, or injured by diseases of any 

 kind, no better method can be adopted than to keep the 

 plants constantly in a healthy, vigorous, growing state ; 

 for this purpose, M'Phail observes, " They must be con- 

 stantly attended to, giving them plenty of heat and water. 

 In warm weather, in the spring and in summer, they should i 

 be watered occasionally all over their fruit and leaves, till 

 the earth in vv^hich they grow be thoroughly moistened. "| 

 In this country, melons and cucumbers are much infested I 

 by a small yellow bug, and perhaps the best method of ; 

 securing them is covering the plants with a frame, oir 

 which millinet is stretched and fastened, as directed under 

 tlv'^ article Cucumber. 



Use. — The use of melons, as a palatable and wholesome 

 tide of diet, is too well known to need any remarks. Dr. 

 ^iease, of Philadelphia, observes, that " The juice of the 

 oweeter kind of water-melon yields, on inspissation, a 

 bright light-coloured syrup, which would answer every 

 purpose required of any syrup. Mr. Henry Drinker, of 

 Philadelphia, procured half a pound of thi?; syrup, from 

 fourteen pounds of melon juice, a part of which I tast- 

 ed, and found very pleasant." To make the most of unripe 

 melons, Loudon's Magazine directs to "boil them, and 

 season them with spices and salt, or bake them like a 

 pumpkin-pie." The rind of the water-melon is also used 

 for pickling, &c. 



MINT. — Mentha. — This is a genus of plants comprising 

 twenty-four species. Those cultivated in gardens are pep- 

 permint, (M. piperita;) spearmint, (M. viridis;) penny- 

 royal-mint, ( M. pulegium.) 



Culture. — All " the species are raised by the same meth- 

 ods, viz. by parting the roots, by offset young plants, and 

 by cuttings of the stalks. Spearmint and peppermint like 

 a moist soil; penny- royal, a strong loam. The plants set 

 in spring or summ.er will come into use the same year. 

 They may be placed about eight inches apart, on beds abo i 



