FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. 101 



Mr. Smythe — Mr. Dustin told me that he did that once and it proved 

 to be a very good treatment. 



Mr. Dustin — I have always made a practice of broadcasting and in 

 the place of sugar I use molasses — about the same amount and pro- 

 portion just as the other gentleman mentioned, just so as to have it a 

 light gi-een. 



A member^ — ^I plowed 200 lbs. of salt in to the acre and I did not 

 have any trouble with the cut worms. 



Mr. Smythe — I heard some time ago that in England they use a cal- 

 cium chemical which they put into the soil as a fine powder either by 

 plowing and some other way and when it became damp it generated a 

 gas that killed them in a short time, and the gas did no injury to the 

 soil. I don't know whether it is worth repeating but I give it as I 

 have heard it. The cut worm is becoming a troublesome pest in this 

 community and especially on the lighter soils. 



Q. What kind of hot beds would you advise — the old fashioned Or the 

 roof shaped? 



Mr. Rose — It is owing to what you want to use this for. I have al- 

 ways used the other kind. My brother uses the greenhouse system. 

 Personally I think we can handle them the other way a little better. 

 That of course is something for every one to work out for himself. 

 You must have a good bed and have it tight and in good shape. 



Q. I would like to have Mr. Rose give his method of destroying the 

 aphis. 



Mr. Rose — I think I covered that gi'ound. So far as we can we dig 

 them up and destroy them. These little aphis will work on the roots. 

 There is a difference in the aphis. You cannot pull up the plant with- 

 out leaving some aphis but there are hundreds of ants that will do 

 their part in destroying them. 



Q. Did you ever use any of the poison called ophine? 



A. No sir. I may say further that I have been so successful in head- 

 ing off the aphis and by destroying the few hills and by always being 

 on guard that I do not consider the aphis any more as a special trouble. 



Q. Have yon any definite rule for watering plants? 



Mr. Rose — I said not to have them too wet. Melon vines are more 

 often over watered than otherwise. 



Q. Is there any difference in the time of day when you do this? 



Mr. Rose — We have to water whenever they need it, and I don't think 

 it makes any difference what time of day it is done. If we find that 

 the plants are dry at noon why we put water on them. 



Q. Would you use perfectly cold water? 



Mr. Rose — We use water right out of the reservoir. 



Q. Would you sprinkle the plant? 



Mr. Rose — Yes, a common nozzle can be used, good large size. Punch 

 it full of holes so as to get a long spray. 



Q. Have you ever tried cutting the vines? 



Mr. Rose — Yes, but it don't pay. You must have a vine if you want 

 the fruit and you must have a vine sufficiently long to bear that fruit, 

 and if you get these vines too short you will find thTit it will not pay. 



Q. What do you consider a good average crop per acre? 



Mr. Rose — ^^That depends as to where you are growing your melons. 

 In Michigan you should get 500 or 600 baskets to the acre. We have 

 gone away above that. 



