MUSKMELON. 



157 



most healthful and delicious of fruits, and our warm bright 

 summers are especially favorable to its growth. As far north 

 as Minneapolis, this fruit is often so plentiful as to cause a glut 

 in the market. 



Culture. The culture of muskmeloas is practically the same 

 as that recommended for cucumbers, and the insect pests are 

 also the same. A warm soil is. if anything, more desirable 

 for this crop than for cucumbers, and in moist seasons it does 

 especially well on very sandy land, providing it has been 

 manured. It is a good plan to pinch off the ends of the vines 

 after they have grown several feet for the purpose of forcing 

 out the laterals on which the fruit is borne, although this is 

 not customary in growing them on a large scale. Late settings 



Fig. 83,-Musk Melons. 1. -California Citron. 2.- White Japan. 3.-MMer's 



Cream. 4.— Extra Early. 

 of fruit may be removed to advantage in September, as they 

 then have not time to mature. The fruit is not ripe until the 

 stem separates easily from it. Fruit ripened on the vineis of 

 the best quality, but for shipping purposes it should be picked 

 when still green. Almost without exception, melons with 

 finely netted skins are of better quality than those with 

 smooth or coarsely netted skins. So true is this that buyers 

 refuse to buy the latter. In order to make the fruit ripen 

 earlier and to avoid the attacks of the striped beetle, the 

 plants are often started in pots and on sods in hotbeds or 

 frames, as recommended for cucumbers. It is a good plan 

 also to place a piece of glass or board under the melons where 



