GARDEN VEGETABLES. 47 



The Muskmelon. There is sometliiug about every vegetable 

 that makes one think when it comes that it is more desirable than 

 any of its predecessors, and I always feel so when I commence 

 to gather that most delicious fruit, the cantelope melon. The 

 cautelope melon is one of the muskmelon family, and is too well 

 known to need any long description. I will simply say that it 

 should not be planted until the ground is warm, as it is almost 

 as tender as the squash. Plant in hills, and thin out to three or 

 four plants in each hill. When the plants have made four leaves, 

 the ends of the main shoot should be pinched off, which will cause 

 the lateral branches to put forth sooner than otherwise. This 

 will strengthen the growth of the vines, and the fruit will come 

 earlier to maturity. The Arlington, Montreal, and Hackensack, 

 are, I think, three as good cantelope melons as grow. Half a 

 row, or about fifteen hills, will give a good supply. 



The "Watermelon. Watermelons are cultivated the same as 

 muskmelons, but are not grown in this section with equal success, 

 as our seasons are not long enough for them to attain to that 

 perfection which they reach further south. But it will not take 

 much room to tr^' a few hills ; so, if our watermelons are not suc- 

 cessful, it need be no great loss to us. The Mountain Sweet, 

 Vick's Earl}^ and Phinney's Early Oval are good sorts. 



The Squash. The squash is one of our tender annuals, and 

 until all danger from frost is passed it should not be planted, 

 as, owing to the tender nature of the plant, the seed is liable 

 to rot in damp, cool weather. Make the hills eight or nine feet 

 apart, and thoroughly manure them. Place seven or eight seeds 

 in each hill so as to have plenty for the bugs, but as soon as the 

 plants are well up thin out to three plants in each hill. 



The bush varieties, such as Summer Crookneck and White 

 Bush Scallop, can be planted nearer together, say six feet apart 

 each wa}-. Press the seeds down firmly before covering, and 

 cover early planted ones an inch deep, and late ones two inches 

 deep. Fine plaster is about as good an article as has yet been 

 found for driving away the bugs. Plant Early Summer Crook- 

 neck and White Bush Scallop for summer use, Boston Marrow 

 for fall, and Hubbard, Essex Hybrid, and American Turban for 

 winter. Be sure and gather the crop before it is nipped by frost, 

 if you wish your squashes to keep well. A dozen hills of the 



