VEGETABLE MARROWS. 532 VEGETABLES, CLASSIFICATION. 



very good effect. They can be filled with 

 soil and planted, or pots of choice flowers 

 can be set in them and changed as soon as 

 the blossoms begin to fade. Ornamental 

 vases for gardens are usually made of 

 terra cotta. A good substitute may be 

 found for them in paraffin casks sawn in 

 half, or in the pails in which lard is sent 

 from America to this country. 



Vegetable Marrows, Gourds, 

 Pumpkins, &c. 



All vegetables of this class, which pro- 

 duce an immense amount of food, are very 

 profitable, and may be easily cultivated. 



Preparation of the Soil. These require 

 a very deep, light, rich soil, and if planted 

 in the open ground, a sheltered and warm 

 situation. Dig pits 2 feet wide and deep, 

 and fill with well-prepared fermenting 

 manure, and cover about a foot deep with 

 soil. The pits should be from 6 to 10 feet 

 apart, and should be prepared about a 

 week before planting, so that the soil may 

 be properly warmed by the heat from the 

 manure. The tops of compost heaps and 

 hills of decaying leaves, manure, &c., will, 

 however, afford the best possible situation 

 for their growth. 



Sowing , and Preparation of the Plants. 

 Sow early in April, in a pot or pan, filled 

 with light soil, covering the seeds about 

 half an inch ; place in gentle heat, and as 

 soon as the plants are sufficiently strong to 

 handle, pot them off into 7-inch pots, put- 

 ting two plants in each, and replace them 

 near the glass in the warmth. When well 

 established, remove to a cold frame, and 

 gradually prepare for planting out, by a 

 freer ^rposure to air, &c. 



Planting and After -management. 

 Towards the end of May, or as soon as 

 the weather is warm, and appears to be 

 settled, and the plants ready, plant them 

 out, and protect them for a time by hand- 

 glares or other means, and attend to 



watering until the roots get hold of the 

 soil. Train and regulate the shoots, so as 

 to prevent them from growing too closely 

 together, and stop them, if necessary, to 

 forward the growth of the fruit. The 

 plants should not be allowed to feel the 

 want of water at the roots, but if planted 

 in suitable situations, watering will seldom 

 be necessary. Marrows, as it has been 

 said, will grow well when placed on a 

 dunghill, or on any hillock formed of 

 stable refuse and covered over with earth. 

 Being a trailing plant, this position suits 

 it, and the hillock will soon be covered 

 with vines. If the vines are pegged down 

 at a joint, and the joint covered with earth, 

 roots will be sent out from the joint, and 

 will afford fresh channels of nutriment for 

 the plant and its fruit. Vegetable marrows, 

 gourds, &c., may be trained on trellises, 

 fences, &c., on which their broad green 

 leaves, brilliant yellow flowers, and fruits 

 of various forms and colours will present 

 an attractive appearance. 



The approved varieties of the vegetable 

 marrow are numerous, but among these it 

 will be sufficient to name the "Bush" 

 Marrow, not a trailer, but one of compact 

 habit and bush-like. The " Long White" 

 are the most prolific croppers in the 

 market, and not to be excelled for general 

 use, and the " Custard," bearing small 

 fruit of delicious flavour. 



Vegetable Mould. 



Vegetable mould, the richest of all 

 garden soils, contains from 5 to 12 per 

 cent of humus; that is, decomposed vege- 

 table and animal matter. See Humus, 

 Soils, &c. 



Vegetables, Classification of. 



In considering vegetables generally it is 

 useful to seek some kind of classification 

 for them, so that the kinds that belong to 

 each class may be taken in groups. The 



