194 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pressed into the ground half an inch will keep the worms from de- 

 stroying the plants. The paper collars are very cheap and can be 

 used on a large scale. A pane of glass placed over the top protects 

 the voung plants from the cold winds and late spring frosts, so that 

 the collar really serves the double pur])ose of keeping the cut-worms 

 out and supporting the glass protector. 



The striped beetle is also an enemy, although a little air-slaked 

 lime or land plaster will scatter them so that they will do little or no 

 damage. The melon louse is quite a serious pest in some melon 

 growing states, but has not as yet become very bad here. 



Melons are very susceptible to diseases in this section, as the 

 climatic conditions are not always favorable, and the plant is attacked 

 in a weak condition and easily succumbs. "Anthracnose," or what 

 is commonh' known as rust, is a very destructive fun^^us which 



J. Vincent Bailey (on the left) ami his r,oad of Miiskmeluiis Keadj' for Market. 



attacks the plants and soon spreads over a field. I know of no 

 remedy for this disease but to keep the plants in as vigorous con- 

 dition as possible. 



"Damping off" also takes a large percentage of the young plants 

 in early spring if the weather is cold and wet, but if plenty of seed 

 is used enough plants will usually pull through to make a stand. 



Perhaps my description of diseases and insect pests would give 

 the inexperienced grower the idea that the melon is hard to raise, 

 but with good care and cultivation and close watching a good crop 

 is generally the result. 



