•^1 



BULLETIN OF 



Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. 



THE GROWING AND MARKETING OF SQUASHES, MELONS 

 AND CUCUMBERS. 



By Henry M. Howard, Dix Farm, West Newton, Mass. 



The cultivation of each of these crops is most easily understood and 

 performed. The preparation of the soil is so easy and the labor of 

 cultivating and harvesting so light that they have been called the 

 lazy man's crops. But in order to get a large yield of high quality, 

 and make a big profit, requires a grower who is able to surmount 

 every difficulty. 



In general the preparation of the soil would be the same for each 

 of these crops. Manure is applied broadcast, at the rate of from 8 to 

 10 cords per acre, and plowed in about 6 inches deep. Additional 

 manure or fertilizer is used in the hill. As soon as the manure is plowed 

 in, harrow and level the surface, and continue to harrow and level at 

 intervals of a week until ready to plant the crop, the latter part of 

 May or the first part of June. 



Squashes. 

 The growing of squashes can easily be made more profitable than 

 the raising of corn or potatoes. There is considerable outlay connected 

 with starting in the squash business. It is necessary to have a good 

 storage plant, well built and heated, but this plant requires very little 

 repair, and there is no great shrinkage in value. A good squash house 

 is double-walled, rat proof and plastered on the inside. The shelves 

 are made 6 or 7 feet wide and 2^ feet apart, one above another. A 

 walk 2 feet wide is left all round the wall and between the tiers of 

 shelves. The heating may be by a coal stove or a hot- water heating 

 system, having the heating pipes located on the walls and near the 

 floor. 'The ventilation should be by windows on the side walls and 

 gable ends. 



