C n 5 ] 
IV* A Letter from Martin Triewald, F. R. S. 
Captain of Mechanics , and Military Archi- 
tect to the King of Sweden, to C. Mortimer, 
M. 2). Sec . R. S. concerning the Vegetation 
of Melon-Seeds Forty-two Tears old . 
with an Experiment I made this Year, relating to 
Vegetation, which was as follows : Secretary H<ereus y 
of this Place, having a large Colle&ion of Natural 
Curiofities, amongft which he has likewife colle&ed 
a great Number of foreign Seeds, and finding he had 
Melon-feeds that were laid up in a Paper in the 
Year 1700. I was curious to try if they had retained 
their vegetative Quality, and accordingly the 21ft of 
February laft, I planted myfelf Twenty-four of them 
in a feparate Hot-bed, of which I had Twenty-one 
good Plants, which, after they were planted in a new- 
made Hot-bed, fhewed Flowers before they began to 
branch themfelves, and their Branches were very nar- 
row, yet produced early and plenty of good Melons. 
This Experiment fhews not only how long Melon-feeds 
retain their vegetative Quality, but likewife that good 
Melon-feeds cannot well be too old. I know it is no 
new thing to make ufeof old Melon-feeds rather than 
new,but 1 never heard of any body trying fo old as thefc. 
So if you think this Experiment worth taking No- 
SIR, 
Rtad May 20. 
1742. 
H 
AVING at prefent an Opportu- 
nity of writing, I mull acquaint you 
Q. 
tice 
