240 Tbansactioxs of tee Americak Institute. 



Pkuning Melons. 



Mr. W. T. Parker, Birmingham, Erie comity, O. — What have the 

 market gardeners to say about pruning melons ? Should the vines 

 he pruned, or should only the number of melons be limited ? If we 

 are to stop the vines, shall it be leaders or laterals, "and with plants 

 six feet apart how many melons are allowed to a hill ? 



Mr. X. C. Meeker.— Market gardeners do not grow many melons, 

 as too much space is required, the proper distance being eight feet. 

 ITor do they thrive on heavy soils. On the Jersey sands they grow 

 abundantly, and no attention is paid to pruning. This is an old Eng- 

 lish method, common to the gardeners of the nobility, and perhaps 

 necessary in a cold climate or under glass. There is scarcely a doubt 

 that if one in this country should take English books for a guide that 

 he would learn more false than true things. They may be applicable 

 in England — though we suspect some of them to be more vagaries, 

 having their origin in ignorance, or in attempts at appearing wise in 

 the eyai of superiors. 



The CuRRiiNT "Worm. 

 Mr. M. Quimby. — It has been recommended to put out slips of the 

 currant extensively in sections where the worm has not appeared, for 

 the purpose of supplying the deficiency occasioned by their ravages. 

 Having a little experience just here discouraging such proceeding, I 

 would advise a little caution. As they are travelers, by the time the 

 bushes are ready to transplant, the worms may be on hand to destroy 

 them. Thej are said to be migratory in their habits, remaining but 

 a few years in one section. The diminishing numbers liere in the 

 Mohawk valley is one evidence that they will eventually leave us. 

 Yet this result may be owing to the fact that the currant and goose- 

 berry bushes are so nearly all killed, there are not leaves enough left 

 for an abundant brood. However this may be, the question to be 

 answered is whether it will pay to keep off the worms, for the currants 

 we get from year to year. If we decide it will not pay, and dismiss 

 them without further trouble, the bushes are usually killed the first 

 summer. But if we want currants, and are willing to work a little 

 for them, like most other things, they may be had. But no half-way 

 work will suflice. It will not do to wait till the worm has attained 

 its growth, and then sift on some road dust, lime, ashes, or other mild 

 material, and think because they disappear they are all killed. It 

 should be remembered that there are three or four o-enerations in one 



