A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

—
MEL 371 MEL
MELISSA. Balm. Four species.
Hardy herbaceous perennials. Division.
Common soil.
MELITTA melis-tophyUum and two
varieties. Hanly herbaceous perennials.
Division. Common soil.
MELOC ACTUS. Melon thistle.
Fourteen species. Stove evergreen
shrubs. Offsets. Sandy peat.
MELODINUS. Two species. Stove
evergreen twiners. Cuttings. Loam
and peat.
MELOLONTHA, the Cockchafer.
M. vulgaris. Common Cockchafer.
M. hortkolo. May-Bug, or Brackenclock.
Feeds upon the leaves of the
Raspberry and Rose. Mr. Curtis justly
observes, that— " When the roses are
in full bloom in May, these beetles
termed, is more economical, and by
enabling a more regular temperature to
be sustained, renders the fruit in greater
perfection. The pit is a rectangular
frame or bin, built of nine inch brickwork,
in preference to boards, which
have to be renewed every five or sn
years, if employed and enclosed by a
glass case of the necessary dimensions.
Mr. Smith, gardener to A. Keith, Esq.,
of Ravelstone, N. B., has suggested a
mode of building a pit which renders
the renewal of the heat in it easy ; and
as the committee appointed to examine
it report, is the means of considerable
saving compared with the common
mode of forming an open bed. But the
facility with which linings may be applied
is its best feature ; for if by any
sometimes do very extensive mischief chance the heat failed, there was seldom
to the flowers, by eating out the anthers
and consuming the petals. Having deposited
about a hundred eggs in the
earth, the female dies, and the larva;
hatch and commence their attacks upon
the roots of the grass. It is stated, that
they are feeding three years, and they
reside about an inch beneath the turf;
but as winter approaches, they retire
deeper into the earth ; and even in
November, when frost has set in, they
have buried themselves a spade deep.
The larva; are rather active and can
walk tolerably well, dragging their bodies
after them ; they lie, however,
generally curved up in the shape of a
horse-shoe; the head is deep, ochreous
and destitute of eyes. The body is
ochreous white with a few brown hairs.
To kill these larvs, water the grass in
the autumn with one-tenth gas liquor
any alternative in the old pits but to
break them up.
The accompanying sketch will at
once show the form of the pit, and Mr.
Smith's mode of applying the linings.
A is the pit the side of which a a instead
of being a continuous piece of
Fiff. 9S.
brick-work are merely rows of pillars
six feet apart; and the brick-work of
the frame 6 6 is supported by bars of
iron reaching from pillar to pillar. An
j
I
to two-tenths .^ _ svater, .._ it will do _ no mi outer wall, c c, is constructed at two
chief to the grass, but will extirpate and a half feet distance from the pillars
these miners. Where the gas liquor on each side ; thus two bins are formed
cannot be obtained, employ strong salt in which the linings are inserted, as is
water." Card. Chron.
found necessary, and are kept close
MELON. Cucumis meJo.
covered with thick boards ; d represents
Varieties.—There are many varieties the lights, which thus are formed with-
of the Melon of which the Nutmeg may out any wooden frames. For other
be considered as the type ; it and the modes of construction, see P;y,s, (^-c. If
Citron are, however, the most desirable, a common hot-bed is employed, fifteen
which have come under our observa- barrow loads of dung is the usual altion.
The mode of out-door culture lowance to each light, which make it
is very similar to that of the cucumber; about six inches higher than is allowed
they delight in light land well manured for the cucumber bed of largest dimen-
;
are quite tender, and should not he sions. If a melon house be employed,
planted untd all fear of frost has ceased the following is the form and mode
To force Melons.— Although a com- adopted by Mr. Fleming.
mon hot-bed is generally used for this " The house is twenty-eight feet lonp,
j
plant, yet a pit, as it is technically and fifteen wide, and is heated by
|