242 



MELON. 



more care in the cultivation than some other sorts. 

 This has frightened some young practitioners out 

 of a good opinion of it ; but a little close attention to 

 the growth of the plants, when they begin to run, 

 will overcome all fancied difficulties attending it. 



Having alluded to melon feasts, recals to the mind 

 of the writer many feats and friends of by-gone days, 

 when youthful ardour and hope banished every care 

 and lightened all his toils. Readily could he recount, 

 even at this late period of his life, what occurred at 

 those feasts — who were the fortunate competitors 

 — and which of his companions shared with him the 

 honours of a prize. Such recollections are often a 

 solace to his own mind ; but he fears a detail of them 

 would be felt irksome to the reader, and therefore 

 shall only add, that these feasts, when partaken of 

 within the bounds of moderation, were productive of 

 much active emulation amongst young men, diffused a 

 knowledge of gardening at a time when there were 

 no cheap periodicals to instruct, nor penny-trumpets 

 to sound tidings of improvements and new discoveries 

 in the business. These meetings were also bonds of 

 union, and promotive of good fellowship among the 

 brethren of the spade. 



There is a variety of the scarlet-flesh melon with a 

 smooth rind, which is highly spoken of, and has been 

 grown in great perfection, and gained a prize, by 

 Mr. Stanar, now foreman of the melon ground at 

 Windsor Castle. 



4. Orange Cantaloupe. — A charming little melon, 

 also called the Golden Cantaloupe* The fruit are 



