254 MANAGEMENT OF THE VARIOUS CROPS. 



Insects troubling melons are aphis and mealy-bug, es- 

 pecially the latter. Fumigate with tobacco for the aphis, 

 and knock off the mealy-bug with a hard stream of water. 

 Mites are also serious on house melons. For these, keep 

 the foliage well syringed (page 221). 



Diseases of house melons are mildew and damping- 

 off. For the former, improve the sanitary conditions, and 

 then use sulphur. For damping-off, or canker, keep the 

 earth dry about the crown of the plant, and use soils 

 which do not remain wet and pasty on top. House-blight 

 is a name which we have given to a physiological trouble 

 (Fig. 79), which arises when the plants are allowed to go 

 through the night wet, especially when other sanitary con- 

 ditions are bad (page 222). 



Parsley is forced from roots taken to the house in the 

 fall, and which are raised from spring-sown seeds. Treat 

 essentially the same as for lettuce (page 142). 



Both dwarf and tall peas may be forced. The former 

 give earlier results, but the larger and better yields are 

 obtained from the half-tall varieties. Varieties like Rural 

 New-Yorker will mature in 70 to 80 days from the seed 

 in winter. The temperature should be as low as for let- 

 tuce. Peas may be grown in solid beds or in boxes 

 placed amongst other plants. Peas yield little, and they 

 are rarely forced for market (page 135). 



The pepino is a solanum, something like eggplant, 

 which may be forced in a cool house. It is a sub-shrub, 

 and is propagated by cuttings. Cuttings taken in March 

 may be expected to bear the next January or February. 



