264 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



tacle, thin to one. Or sow in berry-boxes and set out 

 box and all. 



Thin when danger from pests is over, to three 

 plants in the hill. 



Set out house-grown plants when frosts are past, 

 three to the hill. 



Culture. Preserve the surface mulch, and prevent 

 running varieties from rooting at the joints, as they 



would then grow rather than 

 make fruit. If the plants, 

 after flowering, run too much 

 to vine, pinch them back to 

 force fruiting. If one fruit 

 sets much earlier than the 

 Fig. 125. Hubbard Squash, ot hers, pick it off, for the 

 sake of a uniform crop. For best results, pick off all 

 blossoms from a plant after two or three fruits have 

 set, and pinch back all ends. 



Fertilizer. It is better to depend upon a well- 

 enriched soil than to fertilize after the plants have 

 started. A little quick-acting fertilizer under the seeds 

 in the hill (but not touching them) will help the 

 start, but nitrogen added later in available form will 

 produce vines rather than fruit. 



Pick summer varieties when ripe. Pick winter kinds, 

 for storage, when almost ripe, taking care not to start 

 the stem, and leave them in the sun to dry; the end 

 of the stem should dry as soon as possible. Then 



