104 
THE STRIPED HOUSAINEE MELON. 
inches and a half, the small one, an inch and a half. From this pe- 
/ 
riod thej 7- advanced regularly ; the one being at all times proportion- 
ably'less than the other. I did not accurately note the dates when 
they ceased to enlarge ; but two or three weeks subsequently elapsed 
before they became ripe. The smaller melon was cut on or about 
the first day of August: it weighed three pounds six ounces. The 
larger fruit was cut in a perfectly mature state on the twenty-fourth 
of that month; it measured nine inches in length, about twenty 
inches in the girt, and weighed six pounds five ounces. I kept it 
for above a week, and then sent it to the London Horticultural 
Society, with a paper containing the particulars of its culture. 
Shortly after I was honoured by a letter from Mr. Lindley, dated 
September 6, wherein I was assured that the Melon had been “ laid 
before the Garden Committee” and was “an excellent fruit.” At 
vol. 1, p. 778 of the Reg. I have mentioned the tardiness of this 
variety in ripening; the period was much prolonged with me, not 
only by the easterly aspect of my house, but in consequence of the 
alteration by which one end of it was laid open for many days. This 
caused an irregularity in the temperature, and much exposure to 
wind, whereby the foliage was deranged ; and the fruit arrested in 
its growth. One plant, in fact, that was fully exposed, was killed ; 
the foliage being dried up, as if a fire had been kindled under it. I 
mention this, in order to caution other cultivators to avoid, as much 
as possible, the evil of suffering a stream of air to beat down upon 
the surface of the leaves. 
If any of your readers Sir, be really desirous of making a trial 
during the present year, but find a difficulty in procuring seed, I 
shall feel happy to prove, by more than mere words, the anxiety I 
feel of promoting the progress of this delicious fruit, to the exclusion 
of the old varieties. I therefore, herewith, place at your disposal, a 
few packets of seeds of the Housainee and sweet Ispahan melon,* 
both grown by myself last summer; I hope you will have applicants 
sufficient to take them off your hands, and that ample success will 
attend each experiment. It will be clearly understood, that you are 
to be put to no expense, either by letter or otherwise, on the part of 
any one who may wish to avail himself of an offer that is freely 
made. G. I. T. 
January 4th, 1833. 
* I had six packets of a species, which I consider a variety of the great Ger- 
mek, if not the Germek itself; it is, without exception, the finest frame or bed 
melon that I ever saw, prolific, and of easy culture: the seeds originally came 
from a nobleman’s estate, but without a name. 
