the water-melon; a genus of the diandria order, belonging to the monoecia class of plants.

Species. Of this genus, Linnæus reckons three species, the trilobata, pedata, and trifoliata; but only one is known in this country, by the name of Citral. The fruit is cultivated in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and other warm countries of Europe; as also in Africa, Asia, and America; where it is esteemed on account of its wholesome cooling quality; but in Britain it is held in little estimation.

Culture. To have this fruit good, some seeds must be procured of three or four years old; new seeds being apt to produce vigorous plants, which are seldom so fruitful as those of a moderate strength. These are to be sown in the hot-bed for early cucumbers. Some new dung is to be prepared in the beginning of February, which should be thrown into a heap to heat, as is practised for early cucumbers. The bed is then to be made in the same manner as for the musk-melon, covering the dung about five inches thick with loamy earth; but as these plants require much more room than either cucumbers or common melons, there should be but one plant put into a three-light frame. A hill of the same loamy earth should therefore be raised a foot and a half high, in the middle light of each frame; into which, when the bed is of a proper temper for heat, the plants should be carefully planted, observing to water and shade them until they have taken good root. As to other particulars, their management differs very little from that of the musk-melon; only they must frequently have fresh air admitted to them; and, when when the nights are cold, the glasses must be covered with mats to keep the beds warm.