172 CUCURBITACEOUS PLANTS. 



fine loam to raise the hill two or three inches above the sur- 

 rounding level. On the top of the hill thus formed, plant 

 twelve or fifteen seeds ; and, when the plants are well up, 

 thin them out from time to time as they progress in size. 

 Finally, when all danger from bugs and other insect depreda- 

 tors is past, leave but two or three of the most stocky and 

 promising plants to a hill. When the growth is too luxuri- 

 ant, many practise pinching or cutting off the leading shoots ; 

 and, when the young fruit sets in too great numbers, a portion 

 should be removed, both for the purpose of increasing the 

 size and of hastening the maturity of those remaining. 

 " Keep the fruit from being injured by lying on the ground ; 

 and if slate, blackened shingles, or any dry, dark material, 

 be placed beneath it, by attraction of the sun's rays, the fruit 

 will ripen earlier and better." 



The striped bug (Galeruca vittata) is the most serious 

 enemy with which the young melon-plants have to contend. 

 Gauze vine-shields, though the most expensive, are unques- 

 tionably the most effectual preventive. Boxes either round 

 or square, twelve or fifteen inches in depth, and entirely 

 uncovered at the top, if placed over the hills, will be found 

 useful in protecting the plants. The flight of the bug being 

 generally nearly parallel with the surface of the ground, 

 very few will find their way within the boxes, if of the depth 

 required. Applications of guano, ashes, dilutions of oil-soap, 

 and plaster of Paris, applied while the plants are wet, will be 

 found of greater or less efficacy in their protection. The 

 pungent smell of guano is said to prevent the depredation 

 of the flea-beetle, which, in many localities, seriously injures 

 the plants early in the season, through its attacks on the 

 seed-leaves. 



