The Culture of Vegetables 



GOURD and PUMPKIN 



(Cucurbita) 



THESE may be grown to perfection by precisely the same method as 

 recommended for Ridge Cucumbers ; but as the plants occupy more 

 space, room must be left for them to extend beyond the limits of the 

 ridge southwards. It is well to put out strong plants from pots and 

 protect them until established, but if these are not obtainable, the 

 seed may be sown where they are intended to stand, and there will in 

 time be plenty of produce, but of course somewhat later in the season 

 than if strong plants had been put out in the first instance. Keep 

 a sharp look-out for slugs, which will flock in from all quarters to 

 feast upon them, but will scarcely touch them after they have been 

 planted a week or so. Any rough fermenting material, such as grass 

 mowings, may be used in making the hills, to give them the aid of a 

 warm bed for a brief space of time, and it is a great gain if they grow 

 freely from the first. Later on the natural heat will be enough for 

 them. 



The edible Gourds are useful in all their stages and ages ; and 

 if the cultivator has a fancy to grow large, handsome fruits, he can 

 make the business answer by hanging them up for use in winter, when 

 they may be employed in soups in place of Carrots, or in addition 

 to the usual vegetables, and may indeed be cooked in half a dozen 

 different ways. There remains yet one more purpose to which the 

 plants may be applied : supposing you have a great plantation of 

 edible Gourds and Marrows, and would like a peculiarly elegant and 

 delicious dish of Spinach, make a dish by pinching off a sufficiency 

 of the tops of the advancing shoots, and cook them Spinach fashion. 

 If properly done, it is one of the finest vegetables ever eaten. As 

 pinching off the tender tops of the shoots lessens the fruitfulness of 

 the vines, we only recommend this procedure where there is a large 

 plantation. 



Gourds may be trained to trellises, fences, and walls. In all 

 such cases, a good bed should be prepared of any light, rich loam, 

 and it will be none the less effective if made on a mound of ferment- 

 ing material. 



HERBS 



WITH certain exceptions, the growing of Sweet Herbs from seeds is 

 altogether advantageous. The plants come perfectly true, and are so 



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