Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1912 — DIFFICULTY IN GROWING MELONS [ARTICLE]

DIFFICULTY IN GROWING MELONS

Lea./ Bllsht Xs Moat Commoa ol Canteloupe Troubles— May be Checked by Sprayin*. When blight attacks the cantaloupe then the hopes of the grower wilts, as well as the leaves of his plant—it is usually a hard case to cure. \ Leaf blight is the most common of cantaloupe troubles. The leaves become covered with light, to dark brown, generally circular spots, which Increase in size and finally coalesce, .resulting in complete wilting and curling of the leaves. The sixits commonly show fine and rather indistinct concentric markings such as are found in the common alternarla blight of the potatbl The leaf stalks and vines are so affected. The blight is caused by a fungus which may at least be checked by spraying with bordeaux. The first application should be made when the vines are from 12 to 18 Inches long and then every two weeks during the season. The bordeaux mixture should be of the usual strength—six pounds of bluestone and six pounds of lime to 50 gallons of water. The greatest care should be taken to get down on the under side of the leaves with the spray. Use a hand pump on small plots with a fine spray. doe * not them nothing