176 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Statement of Mr. Gregory. 



I find on a survey of the land planted to Turban squashes, 

 an area of 20,313 feet, as per accompanying certificate. Last 

 year this tract was planted in part to Marrow squashes, and the 

 remainder to seed cabbages, receiving no manure broadcast, and 

 one handful of Coe's super-phosphate of lime to each hill or 

 plant. The past season it received a passable dressing broad- 

 cast of barn-yard manure, which was ploughed under by the 

 large " Lynn " plough, and the soil, when sufficiently dry, was 

 well harrowed. At about the twentieth of May the hills were 

 marked off at distances of about eight by nine feet, and half a 

 handful of Coe's super-phosphate applied to each hill, it being 

 spread over a space of about eighteen inches in diameter and 

 well worked in with the fork to the depth of about five inches. 

 Four seeds were planted to each hill, and soon after the plants 

 were well up the soil was stirred with a cultivator, after which 

 the weeds were hoed from around the plants. 



As soon as the runners had fully presented themselves the 

 plants were reduced to one to each hill, and the soil was again 

 cultivated, followed by the hoe, just sufficient earth being drawn 

 to the stem of the vine to prevent it being torn up by the wind. 

 I have never practiced " hilling " my squash vines, having 

 never seen the need of it. Though but one vine was left to the 

 hill, the ground was very well covered, with the exception of a 

 few square yards in the lowest portion of it. The striped bug 

 gave but little trouble, requiring but few of the hills to be 

 limed. Of the large black pumpkin bug, I have seen but one 

 specimen for the past two years. The yield of squashes was 

 about 5,600 pounds, — upward of a hundred pounds having 

 been picked before the final gathering ; — a yield of which I 

 should make no note were the season an ordinary one. 



The characteristics of the Turban are great specific gravity, 

 thickness of flesh, fineness and dryness of grain, and a sweet and 

 rich flavor, — these are usually its characteristics, — the quality 

 occasionally falls below this standard. On the whole, I con- 

 sider that the Turban in quality (it much resembles the Acorn 

 squash) approaches very near the Marrow when in its palmiest 

 days, and is at present the best fall squash cultivated, — the 

 Hubbard, which does not mature its qualities till the close of 

 November, being still the best for winter use, except to those 



