VI PREFACE 



Twenty-five years ago this industry was confined 

 to a few southern states and near the large cities of 

 the East. The number of varieties was also lim- 

 ited. Peter Henderson in his " Gardening for 

 Profit," published in 1891, mentions only six varie- 

 ties of muskmelons and ten varieties of watermelons 

 in general cultivation; that number has since in- 

 creased many times over. Methods of cultivation 

 and handling the crop have improved wonderfully, 

 and while the yield per acre is perhaps no greater 

 yet the crop is produced much more easily and with 

 less expense than formerly. Insects and diseases 

 have become more troublesome, but they are also 

 better known, and, with possibly one or two excep- 

 tions, are more easily controlled. 



It has been the aim of the writer in the following 

 pages to give the latest information concerning the 

 needs of this crop, as to soil and climate, and 

 directions for planting and cultivation which will ap- 

 ply to the small grower for home use as well as to 

 the large commercial grower. The principal species 

 of insects and diseases are also described and reme- 

 dies recommended so far as any are known. A list 

 of the more common varieties is also given. 



The illustrations are, for the most part, from 

 photographs taken in the melon fields or from in- 

 dividual specimens or crates. The greater portion 

 of them were taken by my colleagues, J. G. Boyle 

 and C. G. Woodbury, and some of them have been 

 used in bulletins published by the Indiana Experi- 

 ment Station. Figs. 14 and 21 are from photos 

 furnished by D. V. Burrell of Rocky Ford, Colorado. 



