M E 



M E 



die Melilot, than which nothing 

 can be more difagreeable to a Perfon 

 who hath the leaft Tafte : and yet 

 this is the Cafe in whole Parifhes, 

 i where the ignorant People are con- 

 j tented to go on eating of this Bread, 

 rather than takePains todeftroy this 

 Plant, which might be dope in two 

 I or three Years, if they would care- 

 I fully weed it out, and iuffer no Plants 

 I to ftand to produce Seeds. 

 MELISSA. 



The Characters are ; 

 // is a <vert icillate Plant, with a 

 I iabiated Flower, confifiingof ' on f Leaf, 

 I nuhofe Upper-lip is roundifij, upright, 

 I and divided into two ; but the Undtr- 

 I Hp is cut into three Parts : out of 

 I the Flower cup rifes the Pointal, 

 I nvhich is attended, as it Were, with 

 1 four Embryoes : theje afterward turn 

 I to fo many Seeds, which are roundijh, 

 I and inclosed in the Flower-cup : to 

 I thefe Notes may be added, The F/ow- 

 I ers are produced from the Wings of 

 I the Leavis ; but are net whorltd 

 I quite round the Stalks. 



The Species are ; 



1. Melissa hortenfis. C. B. P. 

 Garden Balm. 



2. Melissa hortenfis, foliis ex 

 hiteo 'variegatis. Garden Balm, with 

 yellow variegated Leaves. 



3. Melissa Romana, mol liter 

 hirfuta iff gran)colens. H. R. Par. 

 Stinking Roman Balm, with ibfter 

 hairy Leaves. 



There are fome other Species 

 of this Plant, which are preserved 

 in curious Gardens for Variety : but 

 as they are never cultivated for 

 Ufe, I mall pafs them by without 

 naming. 



The firft of thefe Sorts is cultiva- 

 ted in Gardens for medicinal and 

 culinary Ufe : this is propagated 

 by parting the Roots, either in Spring 

 or Autumn, or by planting the Slips 

 at about eight or tea Indies Di- 

 Vol. II. 



fiance, inBeds about four Feet wide, 

 leaving a Path two Feet between the 

 Beds, for the Conveniency of clean- 

 ing and watering them. 



When they are nrft planted, if 

 the Seafon proves dry, you muft 

 carefully water them until they have 

 taken Root, otherwife they will be 

 fubjecl to decay ; but af:erward 

 they will require no farther Care, 

 but only to keep them clear from 

 Weeds. At Michaelmas thefe Plants 

 mould be traniplanted where they 

 are to remain, at about two Feet 

 afunder. Thefe Plants mould be 

 traniplanted and parted every other 

 Year.otherwife theirRoots will grow 

 fo large as to injure each other, and, 

 for want of room, will rot and de- 

 cay . 



The variegated Sort makes a very 

 pretty Appearance in the Sprmg-fea- 

 ion, while the Leaves are youno; ; but 

 arterward their Beauty goes off : 

 however, a few Plants of this Sort 

 may be planted in large Borders far 

 Variety. 



The third Sort is a Plant of no 

 great Beauty or Ufe ; but is preferv- 

 ed in feveral curious Gardens for 

 Variety. This is fomewhat ten- 

 derer than the other, and mould 

 have a dry Soil, and a warm Situa- 

 tion, otherwife it is fometimes de- 

 flroyed in fevere Frolts. 



The two firft Sorts will grow in a!- 

 moftanySoil orSituation; but the ftri- 

 ped Sort.mould not have aVankSoil, 

 which would caufc it to grow vigo- 

 roufly, whereby the Beauty of its 

 variegated Leaves foon goes off. 



MELISSA TURCICA. Vide 

 Dracocephalon. 



MELO, Melon. 



Dr. Linnarus has joined the Melo t 

 Anguria, and Colocyxfhis, with the 

 Cucumis, making them only Species 

 of the fame Qenus : but where the 

 Fruit is allowed as a duiawleriftic 



& k k fSote, 



