VEGETABLES. 219 



Mr. Taylor: Will Mr. Chandler tell us what the good points of a 

 Hubbard squash are? 



Mr. Chandler: The points I consider good in a Hubbard squash 

 are medium size, a squash that will not exceed ten pounds in weight, 

 and at the butt end the Hubbard is streaked. 



Mr. A. H. Brackett: Is ittrae that one squash thatfills just the same 

 bulk by measurement as another squash grown in the same patch, 

 will weigh one-fifth more? 



Mr. Chandler: Yes, sir; that is true. In selecting seed we select 

 the heaviest squash. We aim to secure seed from the heaviest 

 squash, regardless of size. 



Dr. Frisselle: Do you find any difficulty in ripening squash? 



Mr. Chandler: We never have, although a year ago last fall squash 

 did not ripen as they ought. 



Col. Stevens: Is the surface of a strictly pure Hubbard squash 

 smooth? 



Mr. Chandler: It is not. 



Mrs. Kennedy: Is it not always hard-shelled? 



Mr. Chandler: It is, always. 



Mr. Elliot: Do you ever put into winter quarters any squash 

 that are not hard-shelled? 



Mr. Chandler: Oh, yes. We do not wait for them all to get hard. 

 A squash commences to harden up at the stem end, and if it is hard 

 at the stem end it v;-ill ripen enough after you get it into the house- 

 Mr. Elliot: Do you grade your squash firsts, seconds and thirds? 



Mr. Chandler: We select them right in the field and we put all 

 the choice squash in one house, and put the seconds into another 

 house. 



Mr. Taylor: What are squashes worth now? 



Mr. Chandler: I received quotations a few days ago, and they were 

 $40 per ton. I took a carload to Boston last winter and sold them 

 for $60, and could have sold some for $70. The freight over the Soo 

 Line is $8 per ton, or $96 per car. 



Mr. Brackett: What do your squash cost you? 



Mr. Chandler: My squash cost me about $20 to get them sold. 



Mr. Taylor: You leave the stems on? 



Mr. Chandler: We cut the stems about an inch long, so the 

 men cannot get hold of the stem. 



Mr. Elliot: I want to caution some of you people a little about 

 going into the squash business. (Laughter.) It is not every one 

 that can raise squash and get the profit out of them that Mr. Chand- 

 ler can. Some of you can figure this thing over and see an immense 

 profit in it. I want to caution you a little. 



Mr. Brackett: Would you object to having them in a root house? 



Mr. Chandler: I do not think it would be desirable; it would con- 

 tain too much moisture. The house has got to be perfectly dry. 

 Moisture will gather in the best root house. 



Mr. Taylor: What soil do j^ou consider best? 



Mr. Chandler: I don't know that it makes much difference. The 

 soil I raise mine on I hardlj- consider fit for anything else. It is a 

 light sandy soil. It is a comparatively dry piece of land; there is a 

 little meadow running through part of it. 



