Sec. 30.J 



GARDEN CULINARY VEGETAHLES. 



487 



gi-ained as the otlieis, but it grows tliree or four times larger, witii a sinootli, 

 polislied skin, tlie color of white wax. In size of fruit and vines, it is more 

 like i)unipkiris than ordinary scjuashes. Among all new varieties, we should 

 not forget the old Crookneck. It is a squash of good eating and keeping 

 (piality, and not so delicate in its growth as some others. There ii als-. a 

 crook-necked summer squash, which is considered by those who liavo grown 

 it, the largest, the very best of all the summer varieties. It is early, pro- 

 ductive, and one of the kind called bush, or non-running sorts. Its color 

 is yellow, and has a warty skin, and hard shell when ripe. The Early 

 White, scolloped, a bush variety, wo liave grown with satisfaction as toil's 

 eating qualities, though we thought it a shy bearer. The hills for squashes 

 should be highly manured with well-rotted staiile manure or compost, l)ut 

 not with anything very putrescent, wliich will give ofl" ammonia and kill 

 the young plants, which are very tender. The seeds must not be planted 

 while there is any danger of frost, as a very slight degree of cold will kill 

 the vines while new. The use of salt in manure must be avoided with all 

 tlie cuntrhita family, but jdastcr may be used to great advantaL''- 1 't!i as a 

 fertilizer and bug preventive. 



550. Esg;-Plaills. — These garden plants are not as much grown in Nu:iiurn 

 gardens as in ISouthcrn ones, because they can rarely be brought forward 

 early enough in the spring withovit the aid of artificial heat, as the young 

 [ilants arc very tender. If you have no hot-bcil, sow the seed as early as 

 possible in a sheltered, warm, dry situation, and [irotect the young plants 

 with hand-glasses or boxes, or some covering in cold nights, until they are 

 three or four inches high ; and when the weather has become steadily warm, 

 transplant them into very rich, mellow soil, setting the plants two and n 

 half feet a[iart. A fourth ounce of seed will produce more ]ilants thitii any 

 family wants. The earliest variety is called Long rnrple, and grow* a 

 plum-colored fruit of several pounds' weight, which those who arc accustonietl 

 to eating it, call delicious. There is a sort, called Large Oval I'urplo, that 

 grows larger than the above, and is perhajm jireferablo for geiund culture. 

 The early and late sorts may bo distinguished while growing by tlio »tct08. 

 The earliest grows smooth and the others j)riekly. There are two curts 

 jriown for eardcn ornament — one red and the other white — of ninch smaller 

 size than the sorts generally grown lor cooking. 



551. Salad-Plaills—Lfdiiff.— Lett nee is the principal salad-plant cultivaJwl 

 among farmens, and so far as our observation extends, the poorest varieties 

 are most in use, and rarely made to produce 6enii-s<jli«l heads, meh n^ wo 

 often sec in the city market, almost large enough to bo mistaken for va\y 

 bagcs. The best sort for early spring use, sown in open ground, or for hot- 

 bed forcing, is the Karly Curled Silesia, because it makes a *■• 



of yellowisli-green tender leaves, whi<-h are very g<i<Kl eating a* - 

 arc larcc enough to j-iek, aiul will al'terwartls form loouc licail*. Do not pull 

 up the'j-oung roots, but i>iek olf the leaves, or clip them from il ^*ith 



a pair of scissors, and others will soou grow. The 1-Jirly 'K 



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