Cantaloupes. 15 
same period that it would be if perfectly healthy conditions, 
prevailed. 
The subject is not exhausted in this report, but we have 
done enough work to warrant giving information to the 
farmer, that he may be able to cope with the trouble to the 
fullest extent that our knowledge, at present, will enable 
him to do. 
PREVALENCE OF THE BLIGHT. 
No evidence could be secured in 1899 that the disease 
occurred in any other locality than that of Rocky Ford. In 
1900 I found it in all parts of the valley, with the possible 
exception of Pueblo. Many farmers are yet totally igno¬ 
rant of its appearance, especially when it is not present in 
sufficient quantity to cause any rapid deterioration of the crop. 
A farmer, whose field was badly infested with lice and 
blight, cited the fact that he had shipped 200 crates per 
acre from the field. Inquiry revealed the fact that the 
shipping period had not extended overmore than two weeks, 
and that many melons of inferior quality had been taken 
because, just at that time, the supply of melons was not 
equal to the demands of the market. 
INJURY TO BEES. 
Many hives of bees stood near one of the fields treated. 
The apiarist found no dead bees, nor could it be seen that 
any harm resulted to the bees. The blossoms of the melons 
live only three or four days, so that no great number of 
sprayed blossoms are on the plant at any one time. Most 
of the flowers are well protected by the leaves, so that but 
little of the spray reaches the center of the flower. 
FORMULA FOR MAKING THE SPRAY. 
Dissolve 4 lbs. of copper sulphate (blue stone). 
Slake 4 lbs. of fresh lime. 
When the lime has become cool drain off the milk, 
adding it to the copper sulphate solution; then dilute with 
water until there are 40 gallons of the mixture. These pro¬ 
portions we have found to be about right, but care must be 
exercised to use plenty of iime, or otherwise the acid will 
burn the foliage. It is b tter to err on the part of too much 
lime than not enough. A stronger solution can be used 
with impunity, but we have found as good results from this 
as from the stronger. 
