VINE CROP PROJECTS 169 



11. Combating insects and diseases. — Melon vines are visited 

 by a small black louse (melon aphis) which curls the leaves, causes 

 the fruit to ripen prematurely, and makes it worthless. If left 

 unchecked the lice may eventually ruin an entire crop in a very 

 few days. The life history of this species is not well understood, 

 but as it feeds on a number of wild plants, these probably are the 

 centers from which it is distributed to the field. The pest has a 

 large number of natural enemies which under favorable circum- 

 stances may check its increase. Fumigation of young plants is 

 one means of control, and spraying with nicotine soap solution 

 is a practical remedy in large fields. 



Diseases may also cause considerable loss, and to guard against 

 their ravages some growers spray systematically with Bordeaux 

 mixture. 



1. Why is the melon aphis a dangerous pest? CL : 136. 



2. Does it have any insect enemies? CL : 136-137. 



3. What are the principal control measures? 



CL: 137-138. W-VG:376. 



4. What are the most serious diseases and what steps should he 



taken to control them? 

 W-VG:376. L:229. C: 296-297. 



12. Harvesting and marketing. — The quality of muskmelons 

 will be sacrificed unless they are fully ripe when harvested. Some 

 experience is necessary in order to avoid making too many mistakes 

 by premature picking. The stems begin to separate from the 

 fruit when ripe. In the marketing of high-grade fruits, there is an 

 opportunity to resort to practice that will make the melons doubly 

 attractive to both dealers and consumers. Some growers take 

 the pains to wrap each specimen in waxed tissue paper and to 

 market the melons in fancy packages. 



