MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, kc. 



261 



Of the A earns on Melons. 



As we are now treating of infe&s, although it may look 

 like a departure fro my original plan, I hope that fome in- 

 ftruaions for deftroying the red-fpider on Melons will not be 

 unacceptable. 



Melons, in dry weather, and with a dry heat, are very apt 

 to be infefted with the red-fpider ; and you may always ob~ 

 ferve the fymptoms long before you can fee thefe infe&s with 

 the naked eye, by the leaves curling and cracking in the 

 middle. Whenever you obferve them in that ftate, in fine 

 warm funny weather, I would recommend watering them all 

 over the leaves from a watering pot with a rofe, or an engine, 

 about fix in the morning ; and about eight o'clock ihade 

 them with mats, if the fun fhines, and lhut the frames clofe 

 down till about eleven ; then admit a fmall quantity of air, 

 ietting the mats remain till about three in the afternoon, when 

 they lhould be taken off. Shading with mats will prevent 

 the leaves from being fcorched by the fun while they are wet. 

 If the wind be South, or South-Weft, I would recommend 

 watering them again about three in the afternoon, (hutting 

 them up clofe to keep the heat in, which will caufe a ltrong 

 exhalation, and deftroy the fpiders, as they by no means love 

 moifture. In watering, throw as much as poffible on the 

 underfide of the leaves, where the infect generally lodges ; 

 the Vines may be gently turned, taking very great care not 

 to hurt them ; by which means you can eafily throw the 

 water all over the underfide of the leaf; which muft be done 

 in a gentle /hewer from the engine, or from a watering-pot 



with 



