30 SQUASHES, HOW TO GROW THEM, ETC. 



as do form, but a few hot weeks entirely change the 

 aspect of affairs. 



When we have good corn weather, it takes but a few 

 weeks to mature a squash. I have known instances when 

 the first fruit set was completely destroyed by a hail storm, 

 which occurred late in September, and yet a fine crop of 

 squashes was gathered from the vines. When June and 

 July are colder than usual, farmers will often come out 

 from an examination of their squash patch with a signifi- 

 cant shake of the head, yet I have never known a season, in 

 which cold or wet prevented the growing of a fair crop 

 of squashes on land selected with judgment, well ma- 

 nured, and taken care of. The degree of ripening to 

 which the crop attains, will be affected by a cold and wet 

 season, but the chances of a crop are equally good with a 

 season wetter and consequently colder than usual, as with 

 a season hotter and dryer than ordinary, for, in addition 

 to the check to their development caused by a drought, 

 the borer and bugs are more numerous and more active 

 in a very dry season than during a very wet one. 



Ripening is indicated in the soft or fleshy stemmed 

 squashes, such as the Hubbard, Marrow, and Turban, by 

 the drying of the stem, and a dead, punk-like appearance 

 which they assume. The leaves near the root gradually 

 turn yellow and dry up, and the squashes themselves 

 change color ; the Hubbard assuming a duller, more rus- 

 set color, and the Marrow and Turban sorts a deeper 

 orange. The skin of the Marrow and Turban will now 

 offer more resistance to the thumb-nail, while the Hubbard 

 will begin to put on a shell, which will be first detected 

 near the stem end. It is a singular fact, that the shell of 

 the Hubbard squash usually begins to form on the under 

 side the part towards the ground. When this stage is 

 reached, squashes can be safely cut for storage. 



At some seasons, a large portion of the crop, and, at 

 most seasons, a small portion of the crop, just before 



