Mertons 1487 
bug and any ill-smelling substance will rout him. Land plaster 
scented with kerosene is frequently used. Fish scrap or tankage, 
if prepared without the use of acid, are effective. Frequent 
hoeing and early thinning rob him of protection during the cool 
night. The melon aphis is only an occasional pest. When once 
established, its position on the under side of the vine and the 
consequent downward folding of the leaf, make it very difficult 
to fight. When the infestation becomes general throughout the 
field the task is hopeless. If, however, a few affected leaves show- 
ing in June can be washed with a contact insecticide, such as 
whale-oil soap, the infestation may be held in check until the 
multiplication of the lady bugs comes to our assistance. Can- 
taloupes are more frequently injured than watermelons. 
FUNGOUS TROUBLES 
The most serious problems of the melon grower in cool climates, 
particularly in the cantaloupe patch, are the leaf blight and 
anthacnose. Spots appear on the top of the leaves causing them 
to curl upward and die very quickly. Greatest damage is caused 
during cool nights followed by heavy fogs and sunny days. The 
very early plantings mature most of the crop before injury oc- 
curs. Many growers depend on early planting with good fer- 
tilization and cultivation to produce a good crop before the in- 
jury becomes severe. Others have found that a thorough coat- 
ing of the leaves with bordeaux mixture at frequent intervals 
from the time of the appearance of the first rough leaves until 
maturity, has been effective. With the vines over the ground, 
however, this is a difficult and unsatisfactory operation, and the 
business of growing late plantings has been entirely destroyed 
in most sections on account of these diseases. 
MARKETING 
The cantaloupe is at its highest state of perfection when al- 
lowed to remain on the vine until the fruit freely parts from the 
stem and ig then eaten within a few hours. Herein lies the 
problem of successful marketing. With a nearby market, the 
operation is simple. Careful picking every morning and prompt 
delivery gives the consumer the fruit in best condition. When, 
