Vegetable-Gardening 



1415 



preferred. If very early potatoes are desired the early kinds may be grown 

 in a cold-frame, yielding a crop in May or June. Good culture should 

 be given potatoes, and spraying seems to be necessary in order to 

 obtain the best results. 



On the late potatoes the 

 vines should be allowed to 

 die; their dying denotes 

 that the cork layer is being 

 formed on the exterior of 

 the potatoes. Later the 

 potatoes are dug and can 

 be stored in the cellar. 

 They might be stored in 

 the field or in other places 

 if freezing could be pre- 

 vented. The early potatoes 

 are generally dug before 

 they have formed much of 

 their cork layer. They 

 must, therefore, be used 

 very soon after they are 

 dug. 



Fig. 38. — A drill machine 



Pumpkins 



The pumpkin has been found to grow in almost every soil; but a good 

 loamy soil, which has had a sufficient coating of manure mixed with it 

 and a generous forkful of manure placed under each hill, will surely pro- 

 duce good pumpkins. Pumpkins, however, can be very easily grown 

 in the field or with sweet corn. Plant four or five seeds in a hill, 8 feet 

 from the next hill in the row and 8 to 12 feet from the hill in the next 

 row. Later, thin to two or three plants to each hill. 



Squash bugs may cause trouble. In this case place shingles on the 

 ground near the plants; early in the morning the bugs will be under the 

 shingles and can be destroyed. Allow only one pumpkin to a vine, for 

 production of the largest size. A pailful of water now and then near the 

 hill will be helpful, especially if the weather is not rainy. 



Good varieties of pumpkins are Sweet Sugar and Quaker Pie. 



Radishes 

 A quick, rich soil, such as a sandy loam full of rotten manure, is required 

 by radishes. If they grow slowly they will have a sharp flavor and be tough 

 and woody. For a continuous supply, plant every two weeks in rows 



