424 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Their only sphere, therefore, if they have any, must be as 

 food for cattle. But will they prove profitable for this end ? 

 Will not the pumpkin still hold its own, or root crops pay better 

 (as some good farmers believe) when the great spread of the 

 vine in some or all of these large varieties, the degree to which 

 they exhaust the land, and their coarse, watery structvire, is 

 considered ? As three or four of these monster varieties have 

 lately been introduced, we deem their relative value as food for 

 stock a matter well worthy of the examination and careful exper- 

 imental test of some of our intelligent farmers, who would give 

 the results due publicity. S. A. Merrill, of the Derby Farm, 

 Salem, and Henry Shoof, of Newburyport, each exhibited a 

 mammoth species ; the chairman of the vegetable committee has 

 the seed of another variety, and he would be happy to unite 

 with these gentlemen in supplying seed to any intelligent farmer 

 who will make the above experiment, and give it due publicity 

 through some agricultural paper, circulating in New England. 

 If the compaiative value of these large varieties be the only fact 

 ascertained, the experiment will prove a valuable one. 



Squashes are raised for stock, for pies, and for the table; now 

 here are three distinct uses, and as division of labor is favorable 

 to perfection in the arts, why might not a classification of the 

 varieties of the squash, based on these three distinct uses, tend 

 to improve them, and drive from the market many unworthy 

 mongrels ? 



The crookneck and marrow are now generally acknowledged 

 to be our standard squashes for the table, and thanks to our city 

 epicures, the demand for the pure marrow must ere long elimi- 

 nate the cross of the African and South American varieties, by 

 which it has become deteriorated. Our farmers will find it for 

 their interest to second the efforts of the gentlemen who lead 

 reforms with a silver string. But there is a homely, almost 

 unknown variety, which, if its looks were equal to its merits, 

 would drive the marrow from tlie market. We refer to the 

 Hubbard squasli. This is of the size of the pure marrow, about 

 as prolific, full as hardy, and in every other respect its superior. 

 It is sweeter, mealier, thicker-mcated, of as fine a grain, and richer 

 flavor, and keeps with no unusual care well into the spring. Its 

 color is dai'k green, of a dirty, dusty hue on the surface exposed 

 to the sun ; sometimes of a lead color. Is can be easily distin- 



