Melons 1487 



bug and any ill-smelling substance will rout bim. Land plaster 

 scented witb 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 is 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, 



