CHARACTERISTICS FROM CATALOGUES 57 



day. If boards are placed about the hills, they will take refuge 

 under them. Its eggs, which are usually laid in clusters on 

 the leaves, are also easily destroyed. 



Worms and insects do more or less damage by working into 

 the melon where the fruit comes in contact with the ground. 

 This is easily overcome by placing something under the fruit — 

 small pieces of board, stones, etc. 



Fu7igous diseases are quite prevalent in melon-growing sec- 

 tions. The only one affecting our plantation was the mildew, 

 which was quite serious with some varieties, causing the fruit 

 to become distorted and in some cases worthless. It is found 

 upon both the leaf and fruit. The remedy is to spray with the 

 Bordeaux mixture. 



Fig. I. — Staminate or Male Blossom. (After Bailey.) 



The Fej'tilization of the Jiowers we believe was much 

 retarded during the past season, which fact doubtless accounts 

 in one way for the comparatively small yield of ripe fruit. 

 The muskmelon depends almost wholly upon insects for the 

 fertilization of its flowers. Owing to the great amount of wet 

 weather and the little sunshine during the time the first flowers 

 were in bloom, these creatures could not assist in fertilization 

 to any marked degree. Plenty of fruit set later in the season 

 on most varieties, as is shown by the number of green fruits in 

 Table I. The muskmelon is monoecious ; that is, the sexes are 

 born in separate flowers on the same plant. The first flowers 

 to open are those of the male, which are always more numer- 

 ous than the females. These flowers are easily distinguished ; 

 the female has a melon-like development at the base of the 

 calyx while the male has none. Compare Figures i and 2. 



