(901)
year after, according to what he hath said in his Book of the Systeme of Saturn.
An Extract
IShall now answer to that particular of your Letter, which concerns Melons, as exactly as I can. All the Seeds, I sent you, produce Melons with a thin and somewhat embroider'd skin, not divid'ed by Ribbs: Some of them have their skin whitish, other of the Colour of Slate. The Melons themselves are not very great, their flesh very red, dry, melting upon the tongue; not mealy, and of a high mile. And these are the two onely kinds, which, after I have tried above an hundred different sorts, I make use use of, and send you, not having observ'd any change in them, after the use of 20 years.
As to the manner of cutting them, you know, that the first thing appearing of them, are two Leaves united, here called Ears (mark't in Figure IV. by 1.1.) Out of the midst of these two Ears there shoots, some days after, first one Leaf, which we call the first Leaf or Knot (mark't 2.) and out of the same place, after some days more, shoots a second, call'd the second knot (mark't 3.) Out of about the midst of the Stalk of this second knot shoots the third knot (mark't 4.) And this third knot it is, which must be cut at the place markt 6, without hurting the branch of the second knot, whence this third came; because that from that place will spring a branch, which we call the first Arm, and this Arm will shoot forth first one knot, then a second, then a third; and this third it is, you are to cut again in the same manner, as was said before. And you mutt be careful to cut these third knots, without staying for the shooting of the fourth or fifth ones. You'l see out of every knot come forth Arms or Branches like to the first, spoken of before; and it is at those Arms, that the Melon will be produced. And they will be good, if the foot or root be well nonurish't in good earth, and cherish't by a good hot-bed and
