294 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 



To produce large fruit, pinch off blossoms after two or 

 three have set ; the ends of vines may also be pinched 

 back. 



Harvesting. Cut off summer squash as soon as they 

 ripen. The winter varieties are ready for gathering as 

 soon as the stems become dry and shrunken. Remove 

 them from the vines, being careful to leave two inches 

 of stem on each squash. Turn the white side to the sun 

 for two or three days, then store them in a dry cellar 

 where the temperature does not go below 40 degrees. 

 Do not bruise the fruit while handling. 



Diseases. For mildew and wilt, spray with Bordeaux 

 mixture, or cover the leaves with dry Bordeaux. 



Pests. If the large squash bug, sometimes called 

 stink bug, attacks the vines, protect the vines with frames 

 or pick the bugs off by hand. The old bugs may also be 

 trapped under boards. Pick off patches of eggs by re- 

 moving them together with the part of the leaf to which 

 they are attached ; they are usually found on the under- 

 side. Kill young bugs by dusting them with air-slaked 

 lime or with tobacco dust. 



To repel the squash-vine borer throw a handful of 

 air-slaked lime or tobacco dust close around the vines. 

 If the vines are already infested, split them length- 

 wise and destroy the borers. Cover the injured part 

 with soil. 



To protect the vines from the striped cucumber beetle 

 use frames, dust the plants with air-slaked lime, or spray 

 early with Bordeaux arsenate of lead mixture. 



