THE SQUASH. 199 



The Bush Summer Crookneck is generally esteemed the 

 finest of the summer varieties, but is used only while young 

 and tender, or when the skin can be easily pierced or broken 

 by the nail. After the fruit hardens, the flesh becomes wa- 

 tery, coarse, strong-flavored, and unfit for table use. 



On account of the dwarfish character of the plants, the 

 hills may be made four feet apart. Three plants will be suf- 

 ficient for a hill. 



This is a sub-variety of the Early Yellow Early "White 



Bush Seal- 

 Scalloped. The plant has the same dwarf loped. 



WHITE PATTT- 



habit, and the fruit is nearly of the same size ^Jj^l*"^ 

 and form. The principal distinction between 

 the varieties consists in the difference of color. 



By some the white variety is considered a little inferior 

 in fineness of texture and in flavor to the yellow ; though the 

 white is much the more abundant in the markets. Both of 

 the varieties are hardy and productive ; and there is but 

 little difference in the season of their maturity. 



In the month of June, large quantities are shipped from 

 the Southern and Middle States to the North and East, where 

 they anticipate from two to three weeks the products of the 

 home-market gardens ; the facilities afforded by steam trans- 

 portation rendering nearly profitless the efforts of gardeners 

 to obtain an early crop. As the variety keeps well, and suf- 

 fers little from transportation, the squashes are generally 

 found fresh and in good order on their arrival. 



Plant dwarf, of rather erect habit, and about Early Yellow 



Bush Seal- 

 two feet and a half in height ; leaves large, loped. 



clear green ; fruit somewhat of a hemispherical ^ i * AT l*i 

 form, expanded at the edge, which is deeply 

 and very regularly scalloped. When suitable for use, it 

 measures about five inches in diameter, and three inches in 



