REPORT OF MR. W. S. BLAIR. 305 



PARSNIPS. 



Parsnip seed does not germinate readily and care should be taken to properly pre- 

 pare the soil. Cover the seed not more than half an inch deep, and when up thin to 4 

 inches apart. 



Parsnips not wanted for winter use can be left in the ground all winter in this 

 climate and can be used as soon as the frost is out of the ground in the spring. Frost 

 seems to improve the quality of these roots. 



Guernsey. — A half-long variety best adapted to a shallow soil, of excellent quality, 

 and a very desirable sort. 



Holloto Grown. — Long, white and smooth ; sweet and tender. A favourite variety, 

 and its culture is recommended, although it is harder to gather than the Guernsey. 



GARDEN CORN. 



For early corn the liberal use of well rotted barn-yard manure, or even better that 

 from the pig-yard, is quite essential. Plant the corn in hills 3 feet apart and about 5 

 kernels to the hill ; put a good forkful of manure under each hill and sow the seed about 

 the second week in May 1 inch deep. Give frequent culture if the best results are to 

 be obtained. 



The following varieties have proven the best here for general use : — 



Early White Cory : A very early white sweet corn, of excellent quality, very pro- 

 ductive. 



Extra Early Marblehead : Later than the Cory, of excellent quality, white and 

 sweet. A prolific and promising sort. 



Mitchell's Extra Early : A very early corn, white, of good quality, one which 

 produces well. 



CUCUMBERS. 



For early cucumbers plant in the hot-bed about the middle of April, and as soon as 

 danger from spring frosts is over transplant, being careful that the earth around the 

 roots is disturbed as little as possible. This can best be done by thoroughly soaking 

 the ground and using a transplanter. For general crop plant in the open ground from 

 the 10th to the 15th May. By removing from 10 to 12 inches of the top soil ; filling 

 in with manure, and covering with from 4 to 6 inches of earth, a very suitable place for 

 growing cucumbers can be obtained. The following varieties have given good results : 



Siberian ; The earliest variety tested, grows from 4 to 5 inches long, and is very 

 prolific. 



White Spine : The most promsing sort for general culture, grows from 8 to 12 inches 

 long, and when cut young are excellent for pickling. 



Chicago Pickling : A small growing variety used entirely for pickling, the most 

 prolific of the pickling sorts tested. 



SQUASH. 



The different varieties of squash can be easily divided into two quite distinct kinds 

 — bush and running. The Bush Scallop and Summer Crookneck belong to the former 

 and can be planted in rows 6 feet and 4 feet apart in the rows ; the later and running 

 sorts 12 feet apart each way. When preparing the hills use a liberal amount of barn- 

 yard manure. Throw out the surface soil, put in the manure and cover with from 4 to 

 6 inches of earth. The following 3 varieties are very prolific and on account of their 

 superior quality can be safely recommended. 



Summer Crookneck : Bush habit of growth, very early ; fruit long with ^ cooked 

 neck, orange yellow colour, flesh firm and of excellent quality. Gives the best satisfac- 

 tion of all the early varieties. 

 8a— 20 



