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Extract of a Letter
MY great care this last Month* * This letter was written June 15th. St. Nov. in Parishath been, altogether to remove the smal feeble branches (on which 'tis not likely that any or any good fruit will grow) and to leave none but good branches. When-ever you have a Melon, which coms well, knit on a branch, you must not fail to cut away the rest of that branch, on this side of the fruit, to the end that all the nourishment, that would have been dispersed into the whole branch, may pass into that fruit, which is found at the extremity of the branch; taking care notwithstanding, that the fruit be covered by some leavs of the other branches, for its better growth under the shade, in those parts where 'tis very hot.
As to the time of the maturity of Melons, I must tel you, that I should have begun to eat some, 8. or 10. dayes agoe; but that the Season hath been very unkind for 3. months together, a North-winde having reigned all that time, and reigning still, and causing cold nights; insomuch that I have not yet remov'd my Glass-bells from them, which else I had done 3. weeks agoe. I had knitted ones since the end of April, so that, there commonly needing no more than 40. days from the time of a Melons knitting to that of its ripeness, I should have eat of them before-this time. But to tel you the truth, I have the advantage mage of having Melons knit, 3. weeks sooner, than any body, I know, in this Country.
For the keeping of the Seed, you must take no other Seed, but such, as is found in that part of the Melon, which hath been towards the Sun: And at the same time you eat the Melons, you must well cleanse such Seeds, and rub them with a linnen cloth, until they be very clean and dry; then putting them up in some convenient Closet till Seed-time.
Remember, not to eat the Melons but some 24. hours after they have been gather'd; putting them in the mean time in a
