116 Notices of Communications to the Society, of which 



Esq. of Stamford Hill, was tasted. The seed was received 

 by him from Spain : it has been called the Valentia Melon, 

 but, as it is produced equally in all the other countries bor- 

 dering on the Mediterranean sea, this name seems to be 

 erroneously applied. The proper appellation is the Winter 

 Melon ; its chief merit consisting in the property it possesses 

 of keeping in store a considerable time after it has been 

 gathered. If suspended, when ripe, in an airy and dry room, 

 it will remain good till January, and even later, and thus sup- 

 ply the dessert with an article of some utility at that season. 

 Other specimens were exhibited at subsequent meetings. 

 During the winter, some of the fruit was imported from Spain 

 to the London market, by which circumstance its keeping 

 property is fully proved. It is grown on a hot-bed, exactly 

 in the manner of common Melons. The skin is thin ; the 

 flesh white, becoming of a pale straw colour as it ripens ; it is 

 firm, saccharine, and juicy, and though not rich, is pleasant. 

 The shape of the fruit is oval, with pointed extremities ; the 

 colour dark green, minutely dotted with very light green ; it 

 is very slightly ribbed, and has sometimes, on part of the coat, 

 a few brown glandular processes, like the reticulations of 

 netted Melons. The imported fruit, from being gathered 

 unripe, has rarely much merit ; it is occasionally yellow, and 

 sometimes white. The accompanying figure of the fruit re- 

 presents it about one-third less than its usual size. 



Octorer 7, 1817. A Melon, raised by Mr. Israel, from 

 seeds sent to the Society from Sir Gore Ouseley, through 

 Sir Joseph Banks, and distributed to the Members at the 

 Meeting of the 21st January last, was exhibited. It is called 



