418 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



productive and the cucumbers large and perfect in form. As a sort for 

 growing pickles and for early table use Russian is good. The fruits are 

 small but are produced in large numbers. As a later variety L(yng Green 

 may be mentioned. The cucumbers are large and among the best for 

 table use. 



LETTUCE. 



A common mistake made in growing lettuce is in having the plants too 

 close together. To reach perfection the plants should be ten to fifteen 

 inches apart in the rows. 



Lettuce is quite hardy and the seeds can be sown quite early. To pro- 

 vide a succession sow every two or three weeks. 



As varieties for general growing Black Seeded Simpson, Hanson, Grand 

 Rapids, and Prize Head are among the best . 



The following are sorts of recent introduction : 



Onondaga, Burpee. It forms a large compact head. The outer leaves 

 are curled, yellowish green with brownish red edges. The inner leaves are 

 rich yellowish green in color and of excellent quality. It stands heat well 

 and is a promising variety. 



Iceberg, Burpee. Ice, Pitcher and Manda. The heads are of medium 

 size; leaves somewhat curled and wrinkled, edges brownish red. Every 

 plant formed a good head during very dry weather. Its handsome appear - 

 ance, high quality, and ability to withstand drouth make it well worthy of 

 general planting. 



SALSIFY. 



This vegetable is of such easy culture and so little known that a few 

 words in its favor may not be oat of place. Sow the seed early in spring 

 in drills. If hand cultivation is practiced the drills may be twelve or fif- 

 teen inches apart. The plants should be thinned out if they are growing 

 too close. Late in the fall the roots may be stored in the cellar or a trench 

 outside for use during the winter and spring. They may be left in the 

 ground until spring without injury to the roots. The roots make a most 

 excellent dish and the vegetable would be largely grown were its good 

 qualities more generally known. 



SQUASHES. 



Of late the squash vine borer has made the growing of this vegetable 

 somewhat uncertain, though a large proportion of the damage supposed to 

 be done by the borer is due to a fungus which attacks the vine. Corn 

 cobs soaked in coal tar and placed about the hills when the plants are 

 small repels the moth that lays the eggs which produce the borer. The 

 tar should be renewed every four or five days. The striped beetle may 

 be kept away by covering the plants as recommended with cucumbers. A 

 tablespoonful of turpentine mixed with a pailful of ashes and sprinkled on 

 the plants early in the morning has been quite successfully used to keep 

 away the beetles. 



Summer Crookneck and White Bush Scallop are usually planted for 

 early squashes. Long Island White Bush, a recent introduction, seems to 

 be an improvement upon the usual type. The plants are very productive 



