THE STB I FED HOUSIANEE MELON. 
101 
about the ninth joint, and were, with the shoot itself, cut off. Two 
other laterals from the tenth and twelfth joints, were inclined to the 
right and left upon the trellis; and a third or central shoot was, in a 
short time afterwards, conducted directly up the slope. At the end 
of May, the plant, from the surface of the soil to the termination of 
the central leader, had twenty clear joints, and the early leaves were 
from nine to twelve inches in breadth. 
June 2nd .—Two of the best swelled fruits were selected; the rest 
(seven in number) were, from time to time removed : the three chief 
shoots only, were permitted to grow, but these were retained at their 
full length. 
Setting the Fruit .—I ought, perhaps, to have mentioned this ope¬ 
ration before; however, it is of little consequence, I regularly at¬ 
tended to it as the female blossoms became manifest, although I am 
not quite satisfied, that any certain effects result from the practice. 
I have witnessed its inefficacy in nine cases out of ten, and cannot 
accede to the common opinion, that, until bees or flies be in a state 
of activity, the fruit will fail, for want of a due application of the 
pollen or farina fructicans. When I consider that Dioicous plants 
in situations very remote from one another, produce perfect seeds, I 
cannot but conclude, that attractions may exist which the eye cannot 
discern, nor the mind comprehend; minute insects too, not seen nor 
suspected, may be at hand at every season : still as the process of 
artificial impregnation may be useful, is recommended, and cannot 
do any great injury. I will describe it. 
The fruitful blossom ought to be fully expanded, and the stamens 
of the male flower matured ; that is, the dust should be distinctly 
visible upon the anthers. When two blossoms co-exist in this fa¬ 
vourable state, the latter is to be gathered and deprived of its corol¬ 
la ; it is then to be held between the finger and thumb of the right 
hand, or by a small pair of pincers, and inverted into the female 
flower, which is held upright by the left hand, so that the anthers 
may come in contact with the stigma of the female. In this posi¬ 
tion, it is to be pressed cautiously, but firmly down ; and then, may 
either be simply left in the flower, or as is practised by some, may 
be confined within it, by passing a thread or strip of bass round the 
petal, till that decay of itself. Whatever be thought of the utility 
of impregnation, I earnestly recommend, that no one ever pull off 
the male blossoms as useless, or from the idea that they exhaust the 
plant: nature may herein be trusted; the male flowers are not pro¬ 
duced in vain. 
Water .—This was given whenever the soil became dry at the sur-„ 
