64 



CROP PRODUCTION 



certain selected varieties may be brought to maturity, 

 especially if the seedlings are started early in the hot- 

 bed or greenhouse. The Citron Melon is a special type 

 of the Watermelon which is grown for preserving. 



Enemies 



The Vine Crops are subject to serious injury by 

 several insects. As soon as they come up they are 

 likely to find the Cucumber-beetles and 

 / i the Black Squash-bug waiting to attack 



/ \Wy\ them. When the true leaves develop 

 they are Hable to attract the Httle Melon 

 Aphis, and when the stems begin to 

 lengthen the Squash-vine borer is likely to 

 feed upon them. 



There are two kinds of Cucumber- 

 beetles — ^the Striped, more common in the 

 north, and the Spotted, more common 

 in the south. Both attack Melons, 

 Squashes, and Pumpkins as well as 

 Cucumbers. They eat the leaves and 

 stems of the young plants and deposit eggs that 

 hatch into larvae that burrow through the roots. Using 

 cloth or wire screens over the young vines until they are 

 well started is a helpful measure. So is a heavy mulch- 

 ing of refuse tobacco powder or an appHcation of Bor- 

 deaux mixture. 



About the only way to get ahead of the Black Squash- 

 bugs is to place shingles or short boards near the plants: 

 the bugs will seek these for shelter at night and may be 

 collected early in the morning. 



Squash Bug 

 Magnified 



