50 ' STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Thomas Mars said he had learned more this morning of the 

 methods of truck farming, than he ever had known before, and he highly 

 praised the generosity of Mr. Morrill in letting the whole people know 

 of his methods, and for his investigations which had conferred so great 

 benefits upon his fellows. He maintained it was the duty of every man 

 to thus help others, instead of selfishly keeping to himself the knowledge 

 which would make thousands happy and prosperous. 



Mr. Cunningham told how, when he was selling a few radishes, the 

 fruitgrowers had guyed him about his "green stuff." At the same time he 

 sent to Chicago with his " green stuff," fifteen or twenty crates of straw- 

 berries, which hardly paid expenses, but his radish crop paid more than 

 did fifteen or twenty acres of strawberries. " So, if I am secretive, I must 

 not be blamed by the men who disdainfully looked upon my beginnings." 



SQUASHES: HOW TO GROW AND KEEP THEM. 



The secretary read the following paper by Mr. S. S. Bailey of Grand 

 Rapids upon cultivation of squashes: 



HOW TO plant. 



Select well drained sandy or gravelly loam, well enriched, such as would 

 raise a good crop of corn. If the ground is not rich it should be made so 

 with well rotted stable manure, cow manure preferred. Fit the ground 

 thoroughly as for corn; plow furrows ten or twelve feet apart across the 

 field for the rows. In the furrows, about every nine feet, shovel from the 

 wagon half a bushel or more of manure, well rotted all the better, and as 

 rich in nitrogen as you can have it. When planting, scatter with the hoe 

 part of the manure in each hill along the furrow; mix the balance with 

 fine soil and firm the same with the foot; plant the seed and cover with 

 one inch or more of fine rich dirt and press lightly with the hoe. The 

 covering must not be wet, only moist; otherwise a crust will form and pre- 

 vent the seed from coming up. Put in plenty of seed. As soon as the 

 plants are well up and the bugs begin to come, examine each hill and vine 

 daily, and oftener if necessary, for the striped bug. Catch and kill all you 

 can and be spry about it, or they will be gone like the paddy's flea. Dust 

 the plants with plaster or ashes or road dust; a little Paris green with the 

 same is recommended. In a few days, if you have been vigilant and faith- 

 ful, you will have conquered this enemy; but now comes the greatest 

 enemy to squash-growing, the big black or brown stink bug. When they 

 appear you must be on duty early and late for a few days until the first 

 comers are all killed. Search every hill and plant and the ground adjacent, 

 and kill every bug with thumb and finger. Be quick about it so that none 

 get away. They will play " hi^e and seek " with you, and unless you are 

 equal to their cunning many will escape you. Don't stop to blow your 

 nose until you get where you can wash. Examine every leaf and destroy 

 any eggs that may be found, and thus prevent a second crop. While 

 examining the hills, stir the soil in the hills with your fingers — by doing 

 so you will cultivate the plants and find such bugs as are in hiding. After 



