SQUASHES, HOW TO GROW THEM, ETC. 39 



'there is but a limited demand, the Marrow and Turban are 

 brought to market, and, before frosty weather sets in, 

 they are sold mostly by the ton to large dealers. Late in 

 the fall the Hubbards begin to come to market, for if 

 sold just after gathering, they are rather forced on the 

 market, the Marrow and Turban being usually recognized 

 as the squashes for fall use. During the winter, the sup- 

 ply from the squash-houses around Boston is mostly 

 brought to market in barrels, and sold by the barrel with- 

 out weighing. This is poor practice, as there is often a 

 number of pounds difference made by the thickness of 

 the squash, its size, the packing, and the size of the barrel. 

 Such a system of marketing is apt to tempt to petty trick- 

 ery. 



A greater or less proportion of stored squashes will 

 decay under the most favorable circumstances. It is the 

 policy of the squash grower to lose as little as possible in 

 this way, and the custom of the markets of Boston usually 

 allows a little latitude in this matter. Hence, particularly 

 as the season advances, one or more squashes that have 

 small rotten spots on them, are often packed in a barrel. 

 The Hubbard is a very deceiving squash ; it may be en- 

 tirely rotten inside, and yet, to inexperienced eyes, appear 

 perfectly sound without. If the outside has white mould 

 spots, looking like some of the concentric mosses, the 

 squash is usually sound underneath the shell ; but if these 

 mould spots are greenish or yellow, it is usually soft rotten 

 in a spot just beneath them. If the shell at either end, 

 (and the Hubbard usually begins, to decay at the ends), 

 has a watery look outside, the squash is usually consider- 

 ably decayed underneath. If the Hubbard is very light, 

 it has usually the dry rot inside ; if remarkably heavy, it 

 is usually water-soaken and worthless within. If a squash, 

 on being cut, proves to be water-soaken, a close exami- 

 nation will usually show some small opening, where, during 

 some stage of its growth, the external air found entrance. 



