MELONS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



This annoyance induced me to profit by a hint, derived from the practice of Mrs. Lou- 

 don, who expelled the aphides of her rose trees by a strong decoction of quassia. I di- 

 rected four gallons of boiling water to be poured on four pounds of quassia chips, con- 

 tained in a barrel. After twelve hours digestion the barrel was filled with cold water. 

 This preparation, freely administered through a watering-pot, although it did not kill the 

 black flea beetles, rendered the leaves quite unpalatable and every plant escaped harm from 

 their attempted depredations. The striped melon bug (^Galereuca vittata^ usually fol- 

 lows the beetle. The application of the quassia water to the plants was continued, at the 

 close of the day; and it was gratifying to find in it an immunity also from the assaults 

 of the bugs of this kind. If the quassia water were omitted one or two days the return 

 of these foes was injuriously manifest. 



The most persisting enemy to the melon, devouring plants and fruit, is the squash or 

 pumpkin bug, ( Corcus tristis.^ As long as the vines were damp with the quassi water, 

 the bugs of this class made but trifling encroachments; soon as they were dry, they were 

 again busy, disregarding the bitterness so much modified by evaporation. I then directed 

 that a pound of common glue should be solved in water, and added to ten gallons of a 

 quassi preparation of double strength. This glutinous liquid adhered to the plants, and 

 molestation to both vines and fruit, thereafter ceased. The quassi water, in its strongest 

 form, is perfectly harmless to nearly all vegetation, and especially of this tribe, which will 

 allow the melon cultivator to increase its animal disturbing power to any degree consistent 

 with economy. A plantation of Bermuda squashes was made on another part of the ground 

 at some distance from the melons. The quassi water was not applied. The ravages of 

 the pumpkin bugs were comparatively surprising. Mr. Hope, the expert gardener of my 

 neighbor, J. Tuckerman, Esq., — had recourse also, to the quassi liquid, and attributes 

 the injury and loss that occurred to some of his melons, to the omission of the same. 



Another opponent to melon growers — the white grub or cut-worm — has never troubled 

 me. Professor Mapes asserts, that salt, scattered around the plant, or incorporated with 

 the soil, in the proportion of six bushels to the acre, will prove an effectual exterminator. 

 Mr. Smith, of Newport, in a former No. of this Journal, advises the covering of the beds 

 with charcoal powder, for a protector. 



Maturity. — Citron melon seeds were planted on the 3d of May; those of the Borneo, 

 the 9th. They germinated within twelve hours of each other. The citron melons com- 

 menced to ripen freely about the 20th of August — 104 days from planting. Mr. Smith 

 states, that his melons ripened in 112 days from planting, with his appliances of glass, 

 brick squares, and milnet boxes. This allows an advantage to the open culture of six 

 days. 



Product. — The plot of ground occupied by the melons measured 40 by 180 feet. Six- 

 teen hundred melons were produced. Wycoff''s citron,* Borneo, and the true citron, were 

 the varieties grown. The citron exceeded in sweetness and delicious flavor. The Borneo 

 — a noble looking melon — which was excellent, attained the greatest size. 



Specific inorganic manures. — For three consecutive years I have been experimenting 

 with these manures, in regard to the size, productiveness, and flavor of melons. 



1849. Exclusive of the humus, the upper stratum of the soil is a clay loam, the lower 

 hard pan. The site selected was trenched three feet deep; the several strata were freely 

 incorporated, and well rotted horse manure was freely distributed through the whole mass. 

 Hills were raised six inches high, made light with fine sand, and distinguished, with one 

 ion, by the following materials faithfully commingled. 



A cross between the nutmeg and citron 



