Rural School Leaflet 104 i 



Spinach. — In order to produce good spinach, a rich loam that will 

 give the plants a quick growth is required. 



Plant the seed not more than one half inch deep in rows twelve inches 

 apart. Thin the plants when three inches tall to six or seven to the foot. 



Give constant clean culture. In gathering spinach the entire plant is 

 removed. Choose the largest plants first. 



Spinach can be used as a companion or succession crop in order to 

 utilize waste ground in the garden. 



For exhibition spinach should be washed in a tub of water, and the 

 entire plant as it appears above ground should be shown. 



Squash. — See page 999. 



Tomatoes. — See page 1000. 



Turnips. — See page 1000. 



Watermelons. — Soil that has a large percentage of sand is required for 

 watermelons. In addition to the regular manure, an application of 

 a shovelful of well-rotted manure in each hill, similar to that used for 

 cucumbers, would be an advantage. 



Plant the seed one half to three fourths inch deep in hills eight feet 

 apart each way, five or six seeds in each hill. Thin later to three plants 

 in each hill. 



Watermelons must be protected from the cucumber beetle until the 

 foliage becomes toughened. The method of protection is described under 

 " Cucumbers." See page 998. 



Good cultivation should be maintained until the vines interfere. 



When the melon is ripe it will have a hollow sound. Cut the stem, 

 leaving a small part on the melon. 



Planting table for all vegetables. — See page 1001. 



6. Strawberries; 50 by 100 Feet* 



rules of the contest 



i. Every contestant shall be between sixteen and twenty -one years of 

 age and shall be a resident of New York State. 



2. Each contestant must obtain the approval of his parent or guardian 

 and enroll with the district superintendent before beginning any work 

 connected with the contest. 



3. Each contestant must do all the work of preparing, planting, culti- 

 vating, harvesting, and marketing the fruit from a strawberry patch 

 50 by 100 feet, but he may use all the advice and information that he 

 can obtain. 



* This is a two-years contest and perhaps will not be found practicable for some time. Ultimately, 

 there is no reason why a contest might not extend over two or even more years. 



