The Melon.
Botanical name:
Melo.
A training herb, with yellow flowers, and large fruit; well known at our tables. The plant grows to eight or ten feet long, but is not erect. The stalks are angulated, thick, and of a pale green. The leaves are large and broad, somewhat roundish, and not deeply divided, as in most of the creeping plants of this sort. There are tendrils on the stalk for its laying hold of any thing. The flowers are very large, and open at the mouth. The fruit is oblong and rough, more or less on the surface, containing seeds, with a juicy matter within.
The seeds are the part used: they are cooling, and work by urine. They are best given in an emulsion, beat up with bailey water: this is a good drink in fevers given warm.
