672 



Junior Naturalist Monthly. 



PREPARING FOR GOOD SQUASH PLANTS. 



Probably there is not a Junior Naturalist in the country who would 

 not be glad to raise the very finest squash or pumpkin in his community. 

 I am going to tell you one way in which you may be able to have very 

 strong plants. To do this they should have an early start so that the 

 growing season will be long. 



In the early springtime, as soon as the ground is in condition to be 

 worked, take a sod with plenty of earth on the under side ; turn it upside 

 down and place in a flat or any kind of box ; plant your squash or pump- 

 kin in the soil and place it in a dark place until the seeds germinate ; 

 then place it in a window and keep it well watered. When your garden 

 is in good condition for planting you can place the sod right into the 

 earth so as not to disturb the roots of the little plants ; for squashes, 

 cucumbers, watermelon and the like do not transplant readily. If, how- 

 ever, you place the sod carefully in the earth, packing the new soil about 

 it firmly, the little plants will never know that they have been moved and 

 what a good start they will have! Try this and in the fall let us know 

 what has been accomplished. 



You must be sure, however, that the land in which the plants are 

 to grow all svimmer is very mellow and rich. Good plants will not grow 

 in poor soil. See that the ground is hoed or cultivated frequently, and 

 also that weeds are not allowed to grow. 



At zi'ork. Notice the t^oiid in the center of the garden. In this pond pupils 

 have placed animal life and plant life that is found in water. 



