Vegetable Marrow 



moisture must not be overlooked, for if the ground becomes dry 

 the plants will suffer ; but with sufficient moisture they will continue 

 growing and bearing until the frost destroys them. The Marrows 

 should be cut when quite young, for not only are they more useful 

 on the table when small and tender, but the plants will bear five 

 times as many as when a few are permitted to attain their full size. 

 The explanation of the case is very simple. The production of the 

 young fruits does not in any appreciable degree exhaust the plants ; 

 but when the fruits are allowed to develop, the plant is too severely 

 taxed, and a succession is pretty well brought to a stop. And as 

 seedy Marrows are objectionable for the table, it is clearly an injustice 

 to the plants to allow fruits to become seedy when it is intended to 

 cut them for household purposes. 



Marrows are sometimes grown in abundance, and of the finest 

 quality, on a different plan from that generally adopted." About a 

 foot depth of earth is thrown out in a long line four feet wide. Into 

 the shallow four-feet trench one or two feet depth of good rotten 

 manure is placed, and the earth taken out is returned upon it. The 

 plants are put in immediately, and protected with hand-glasses, 

 frames, or even baskets if the weather is unkind, but they are 

 expected to ' rough it ' if the weather is favourable. Sheets of oiled 

 paper, raised by a small flower-pot in the centre, and with stones laid 

 on the corners to prevent them from being blown away, make a 

 capital temporary protection for the young plants. They may be 

 allowed to grow from under the papers and harden themselves. In 

 due time collect the papers and store for use in the following year. 

 The bed becomes moderately warm immediately, and the warmth 

 lasts long enough for the plants to root freely and start into vigorous 

 growth. Thenceforward nothing is done ; the plants grow as they 

 like, and produce an extravagant quantity of fruit. The most 

 delicately flavoured Marrows, as a rule, are the smallest ; these 

 when cooked should be served whole, or at most only cut into 

 halves, and of course there is no occasion to remove the seeds. 



