MUSKMELON 165 



inverted sods, as melons transplant poorly. Several 

 seeds to each receptacle, thin to one. 



Sow outdoors when danger of frosts is over, seldom 

 before the first of June. Sow six to twelve seeds to a 

 hill, according to the danger from insects; and, when 

 the plants are well growing, 



Thin to three in a hill. 



Set out house-grown plants when frosts are past. 

 The seed of the main crop may be sown between them. 



Culture. Preserve the surface 

 mulch until the plants cover the 

 ground. For best fruits, after four 

 have set on a vine, pinch off all sub- Fig ' 



sequent blossoms. Muskmeion. 



Fertilize with one light dressing of liquid manure 

 or of nitrate of soda, when the plants are small. 



Pinch off the ends of the vines when about eighteen 

 inches long, to induce branching, as the fruits are 

 better when thus distributed. 



Pick when ripe, which is usually known by the ends 

 turning soft. Pick winter melons before they ripen, and 

 all melons before frost can hurt the fruit. 



Store winter melons in a cool cellar to ripen. 



Diseases and pests are mostly those of cucumber. 

 For melon -louse, use methods against plant-lice as 

 under cucumber, or underspray with kerosene emulsion, 

 one to ten, but made with whale-oil soap, and best 

 mixed with Pyrethrum. 



