VEGETABLE CROPS. 



709 



table varieties in proximity to the coarser cattle pumpkins, or it will be 

 found that the seed (if sown next Beason) will produce a crop exhibiting 

 some of the characters of the less desirable type. 



Squashes. — Of this group there are many varieties of fanciful shape and 

 colour. . Those best known for table purposes are Hubbard, Delicata, and 

 Custard. The last two may be described as soft squashes, and the Hubbard 

 as a hard squash, presenting more of the pumpkin cbaracteristics. 



Marrows. — There are numerous varieties of marrows, all of which are 

 adapted for table use. The best-known types are the elongated ribbed, such 

 as the Bush Marrows. 



Grammas. — These are sometimes called Rios, and are the largest members 

 of the family of cucurbits. In many districts they provide a large bulk of 

 nutritious fodder for live stock. One type of gramma (of a shorter kind 

 than the Crookneck) is largely used for culinary purposes, chiefly for pies. 

 All types are also very good for jam-making. 



Suitable Districts and Soil. 



All plants of the pumpkin family are very susceptible to frost,. and there- 

 fore must not be planted until the danger of frosts is past for the season. All 

 of them have been tried throughout the State, and provided the soil selected 

 is well-drained, friable, and abundantly supplied with organic matter in its 

 natural state, or has been enriched by heavy dressings of well-rotted stable 

 manure, they can be depended upon to yield satisfactorily in almost any 

 district. 



Preparation of Soil. 



The land should be thoroughly worked before planting. If possible this 

 work should be undertaken in June or early in July, especially if stable 

 manure is to be added, so as to give the soil every chance to become mellow 

 before the seed is sown. 



In some districts pumpkins are grown between the rows in maize crops, 

 and on rich alluvial soil this plan answers well. When pumpkins are grown 

 by themselves they are usually planted in groups of two or three plants at a 

 distance of 8 to 10 feet apart each way. For bush varieties of marrow and 

 squash about 6 feet apart each way will suffice. 



The soil should be deeply ploughed, and care should be taken when adding 

 liberal dressings of organic manure not to excavate in retentive subsoil pits 

 deeper than the surrounding ploughed soil. If this be done water will lodge, 

 and the plants will either " damp off," or refuse to run and produce a satis- 

 factory crop. The manure should be thoroughly incorporated with the sur- 

 face soil throughout a space of 3 feet or so in diameter. In many districts 

 sandy or stony ridges prove to be highly suitable situations for this crop. 

 Naturally in such places it is necessary to add a large amount of well- 

 rotted stable manure, or preferably old cow manure, with perhaps a small 

 quantity of bone-dust or complete fertiliser, and also to provide a few loads 

 of fairly fine bush rakings for a mulch. The great secret in obtaining heavy 

 crops of pumpkins is to keep the plants moving from the time they show 

 above ground, and everything that can be done to the soil to enrich and 

 increase its powers to retain moisture will help to achieve that end. 



