84 MELON CULTURE 



pearance early when, if the proper remedies are not 

 applied at once, the entire crop is destroyed. At 

 other times much of the fruit will have nearly 

 reached maturity before the disease shows itself, 

 when it may ripen, and appear to be in good condi- 

 tion, but upon testing it, it will be found to be in- 

 sipid and of very poor quality. Such melons are 

 often put upon the market, which is a very ques- 



Fig. 17. A field of melons destroyed by the rust. 



tionable proceeding, to say the least. Fig. 17 shows 

 the effect of this disease. 



As this is strictly a fungous disease, it is easier 

 to control than are those of a bacterial nature. Ex- 

 periments have shown that by spraying the vines 

 several times during the season with bordeaux mix- 

 ture, the vines may be kept practically free from the 

 disease. A 4-6-50 mixture, applied four times at in- 

 tervals of a week or ten days, will usually keep the 



