c lbe Kjtchen (jar den, 
525 
with vs for fa wee to meate all the Winter long. Some hauc flriucn to equal! 
them, by pickling vp our Co wcumbers at the later end of the yeare, when 
they are cheapeft, taking the little ones and fealding them thoroughly well 
which afterthey put in brine, with fome Dill or Fenell leaues and ftalkes • 
butthefe are nothing comparable to the former, wee either miffing of the 
right and orderly pickling of them, or the kinde it felfc differing much from 
ours (aslfaid of the Dantficke kinde) for ours arc neither fo tender and 
firme, nor fo fauoury as the other. 
Theraweor greenc Cowcumbers are fitteft for the hottertime of the 
yeare, and for hot ftomackes , and not to be vfed in colder weather or cold 
ftomackcs, by rcafon of the coldneffe, whereby many haue been ouertaken. 
The feede is vfed phyfically in many medicines that ferue to coole,and a 
little to make the paffages of vrine flippery,and to giue cafe to hot difeafes. 
Here bee diuers forts of Melons found out at this day, differing much in thV 
goodneffeoftafte one from another. This Countrey hath not had vntill of 
late y eares the skill to nourfe them vp kindly, but now there are many that arc 
fo well experienced therein, and haue their ground fo well prepared, as that they will 
not miffc any yeare, if it be not too extreme vnkindly, to hauc many ripe ones in a rca- 
fonable time : yet fome will be later then others alwayes. 
The Melon iscertainly a kinde of Cowcumber , it doth fo nearc refemble it , both 
in the manner of his growing, bailing rough trailing brariches, rough vneuen leaues, 
and yellow flowers : after which come the fruit, which is rounder, thicker , bigger, 
more rugged, and fpotted on the outfide then the Cowcumber, of a ruffet colour, and 
greenc vnderneath, which when it growethfull ripe, will change a little yellowifh, 
being as deepe furrowed and ribbed as they , andbefides hauing chaps or rifts in di- 
uers places of therinde : the inward hard fubftanceis yellow, which onely is eaten : 
the feede which is bigger,and a little yellower then the Cowcumber, lying in the mid- 
dle onely among the moiflerpulpc : the fmell and changing of his colour, fore- (hew 
their ripeneffe to them that are experienced : the roote is long, with many fibres at it. 
The fruit requireth much watering in the hot time of the day , to caufe them to ripen 
the fooner, as I hauc obferued by diuers of the beft skill therein. 
The bed Melon feede doe cometo vs out of Spaine, fome haue come out 
of Turkic, but they haue been nothing fo good and kindly. 
Some are called Sugar Melons, others Pcare Melons and others Muskc 
Melons. 
They haue beene formerly only eaten by great perfonages , bccaufethe 
fruit was not only delicate but rare ; and therforc diuers were brought from 
France, and fince were nourfedvp by the Kings or Noblemens Gardiners 
onely , to ferue for their Matters delight : but now diuers others that haue 
skill and conueniencie of ground for them, doe plant them and make them 
more common. 
They paire away the outer rinde , and cut out the inward pulpe where 
the feede lyeth,flice the yellow firme inward rinde or fubftance,& fo eate it 
with fait and pepper (and good (tore of wine, or elfe it will hardly difgeft) 
for this is firmer, & hath not that moifture in it that the Cowcumbers haue. 
It is alfo more delicate, and of more worth, which recempenfeth the painc. 
The feed of thefe Melons are vfed as Cowcumbers phyfically, and to- 
gether with them moft vfually. 
Chap. LIIII. 
Melo. Milions or Muske Melons. 
The Vfoofthe kindes ofMelons. 
C H a p . 
