302 GARDEN FARMING 



Greenhouse cultivation. The greenhouse cultivation of musk- 

 melons is practically the same as that of the cucumber. Careful 

 attention to watering and ventilation is necessary. Like the tomato 

 they demand a high temperature, ranging from 70 to 80 F. 

 during the day and from 60 to 65 F. at night. They do not 

 thrive well during cool weather or when there is little sunshine ; 

 they want full sunlight and a high temperature. Cool weather 

 and lack of sunshine are conducive to enemies and diseases. 



The soil for muskmelons should be a rich compost, loamy in 

 nature, carrying a small percentage of sharp sand and an abun- 

 dance of organic matter, but it should not be so rich as to produce 

 vines at the expense of fruit. Excessive moisture and an abun- 

 dant supply of available plant food stimulate too much vine growth 

 and produce overgrown fruits which are not desirable. 



In the greenhouse the worst disease of the muskmelon is the 

 mildew, which can be held in check by carefully spraying so as to 

 cover both the under and upper sides of the leaves with a solution 

 of ammoniacal carbonate of copper. This does not discolor the 

 fruits as does Bordeaux mixture and is quite as effective. 



The insects most annoying to the muskmelon grown in green- 

 houses are the black and green aphides and mealy bugs, but care- 

 ful spraying, and fumigation with mild forms of such materials as 

 aphis punk, used at frequent intervals, will keep the house free 

 from these insects. 



Training the plants. If the plants are set 18 inches apart, two 

 stems, each carrying two fruits, will be enough to allow to each 

 plant. If the plants are set 2\ or 3 feet" apart, three stems may 

 be trained from each plant, with one or two fruits to each, ac- 

 cording to the vigor of the plants. When the crop is grown 

 early in the season care should be exercised to see that the flowers 

 are pollinated in the same manner as described for cucumbers on 

 page 248, as the muskmelon bears its flowers in the same way. If 

 it is grown after lettuce, less care in this respect will be necessary. 



Forcing varieties. The English forcing varieties are the only 

 ones well adapted to this form of cultivation, the Blenheim Orange 

 being one of superior merit for American conditions. The Netted 

 Gem is sometimes used under glass, particularly under frames, and 

 can be quite successfully grown in greenhouses. 



