238 MELON. 



formed pruning must cease, because the flowers are 

 terminal. 



The fruit should remain on the tree as long as 

 possible ; and, when gathered, be laid in a heap on 

 the fruit-room floor, there to become mellow and fit 

 for use. Should the fruit be wanted before they 

 ripen naturally, let moist bran be mixed in the heap 

 with them : this accelerates the ripening, but spoils 

 the flavour. 



SECT. XIV. 



MELON. 



The melon, which forms a principal part of the 

 food of the lower orders in the south of Europe, 

 requires artificial assistance in this country; and 

 forms a very principal part, together with the 

 cucumber, of the gardener's business. The varieties 

 are out of number; but there are a few standard 

 sorts which deserve particular attention, and which 

 will be selected from a great crowd of inferior kinds 

 lately brought into notice. English varieties are 

 often inferior, in consequence of being too often 

 grown in the same place, mixed together, or in the 

 near neighbourhood of cucumbers, gourds, pomp- 

 kins, &c., whence no pure seed can be expected. 

 In the old school of gardening, the greatest atten- 

 tion was paid to keeping each sort apart, particu- 

 larly the rock cantaloupe, w^hich, from such care. 



