12 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the \diies after the roots have got beyond the hill, and will also be 

 found b}- the little roots which grow from each joint after the vine 

 begins to run. 



When shall we Plant ? This depends on the season ; but a safe 

 rule will be to plant as soon as cherry trees begin to blossom. The 

 squash needs the whole season of warm weather to perfect itself, 

 and should be planted as soon as the ground is warm and dry. It 

 is better to plant too early than too late, for when planted too 

 earl}^, we only lose the seed, and can plant over again. In ordi- 

 nary seasons the fifteenth of May is none too earl}-. 



Planting the Seed. Having ploughed the land, and worked a 

 good dressing of manure into the surface soil, the rows should be 

 marked out seven or eight feet apart each way, and a slight hole, 

 large enough to hold the manure below the surface, should be 

 made. I find seven feet about the right distance apart, and better 

 than a greater distance, as missing hills will be covered by the vines 

 from other hills, making a more even field. Press the manure 

 down level and cover it with an inch of fine earth, and drop six or 

 seven seeds in each hill, taking care to spread them evenly over the 

 hill, and cover, if the soil is moist, onl}' one inch deep, but if dry, 

 one and a half inches is better, I do not like to press the soil over 

 the seed unless it is ver}^ dry or sand}', for pressing moist soil 

 makes it cake, and obstiiicts the tender plant in coming up. 



Thinning out the Plants in the Hills. As soon as the plants get 

 a good vigorous start, with five or six leaves on them, they should 

 be thinned to three or four in a hill, depending somewhat on the 

 number in the surrounding hills. Where there are missing hills 

 those around may be left thicker so as to cover the vacancy. I 

 know I am recommending very much thicker planting than most 

 writers on squash culture, but I am convinced it is best to leave a 

 good stand of plants, making some allowance for loss by insect 

 enemies. I also fail to see the disadvantage of too thick planting, 

 as some do. I like to have the ground covered so as not to give the 

 weeds a chance, and so that the leaves may be some protection to 

 the fruit against an early frost, which may take us b}' surprise. 

 When I began to raise squashes I thinned a good deal closer than 

 I do now, and the ))ugs thinned closer still, which made the crop 

 quite light sometimes. It is better to have too many vines than 

 not enough. 



Hoeing and after Cultivatio7i. As soon as the plants appear 



