224 



MUSKMELON. 



droops, and then shrivels and hangs on the stem, as 

 seen in the lower leaf in Fig. 79. So far as our 

 botanists have been able to determine, this disorder 

 is not due to any fungus or parasite. It is a physio- 

 logical disease. Fortunately, the cause of this attack 

 was not far to seek. The melons were in a perfect 

 state of health and vigor when, early in October, the 

 gardener and myself went away for a few days. The 

 house was left in charge of an attendant. The weather 

 came off cloudy and damp. The house was over-wa- 

 tered, the plants syringed, and the foliage went through 

 the night dripping wet. The next day the house did 

 not dry off. The second day, when I returned, I had 

 fears that dire results would follow, although the foliage 

 looked well. I had the temperature raised and the 

 house dried off. In two or three days the spots began 

 to appear on the foliage, and in spite of all our efforts 

 a third or more of the leaves were ruined and the plants 

 seriously checked. What promised to be the best crop 

 of melons which we had ever raised turned out to be 

 almost a failure. 



