LEADING VEGETABLE CROPS I'J'J 



above ground until harvesting time, but they 

 frequently succumb after the melons have become 

 wrell formed, which causes them to ripen prematurely 

 and without flavor and quality. The great prev- 

 alence of this disease, resulting in melons of low 

 quality, has been responsible for a very great de- 

 cline in consumption. 



Blight likewise is a serious pest. These diseases 

 may be well controlled by frequent sprayings with 

 bordeaux mixture at intervals of lo days or two 

 weeks from the time the plants are well above 

 ground until it is no longer possible to get through 

 the vines. 



MUSTARD 



Mustard is a member of the cabbage family, cul- 

 tivated to some extent in home gardens, but not 

 found to any great extent in the commercial gardens 

 of the country. Its chief use is in the form of 

 greens, and its popularity for this purpose seems 

 to be on the increase. Many people like the "bitey" 

 taste of this plant, and on account of the extreme 

 ease with which it can be grown it should become 

 increasingly popular with the gardener. It is also 

 used to a considerable extent as a salad plant, and 

 in some localities is grown and matured for its seed, 

 which is largely used in making the ground mustard 

 and oil of mustard of commerce. The seed may be 

 sown any time from early spring until late fall. It is 

 a common practice to sow early in the spring for the 

 summer crop, about July or August for the fall crop, 

 and September i to October i for the early spring 

 crop. 



Several varieties are now offered on the market. 

 The White London, Southern Giant and Chinese 

 are the principal ones grown. 



