1712 



SQUASH 



On very rich bottom lands the plants often thrive 

 remarkably well, but there is danger that the plants 

 may run too much to vine, particularly true when the 

 soil has too much availabli- nitrosen. In order that the 



plants shall start quickly, it is necessary that the soil 

 be in excellent tilth. It is customary, with many large 

 growers, to apply a little commercial fertilizer to the 

 hills in order to give the plants a start. A fertilizer 

 somewhat strong in nitrogen may answer this purpose 

 very well; but care must be taken not to use nitrogen 

 too late in the season, else the plants will continue to 

 grow over-vigorously rather than to set fruit. 



Cultural groups of Squashes are of two general kinds, 

 the bush varieties and the long-running varieties. The 

 bush varieties are usuiilly early. The vines run very 

 little, or not ;\t. all. Thp various .summer Squashes 

 belong !■' ilii^ (■■if.-Mrv. .■in.l 11M1-.1 'if iln-m are varieties 

 of Cncrh.in /',,"- 'nir lull- >.r iMi-h varieties are 

 u.sually |ii:M,ir,l ,-,- rl,,.,. I, ,,..11, ,.,-,,, In I tVct. On high- 

 priced lalnl ll^■^ :.rr nllri, phnil.cl :;x I Ir.-t. The long- 



and to this cati-fxmv m.iy ;il-o >•'■ rrLricl. tor i-uitural 

 purposes, the (•oiiiin..n lirl.l |.uiH|ilviii^. 'I'li. ii- is niuch 

 difference between tlio v.-irirtics .is to linijih of vine. 

 On strong soils, some varieties will run L,-M feet, and 

 sometimes even more. These varieties are planted 

 from 8-12 feet apart each way. Sometimes they are 

 planted in corn fields, and they are allowed to occupy 

 the ground after tillage for the corn is completed. 

 For general field conditions, the seeds of Squashes 



SQUASH 



roots should fill the pot or box so that the earth is held 

 in a compact ball, and the plant should be fresh, green 

 and stocky. Plants that become stunted and develop 

 one or two flowers when they are in the box are usually 

 of little use. Sometimes seeds are planted directly in 

 the field in forcing hills, and when the plants are es- 

 tablished and the season is settled the protecting box is 

 removed and the plants stand in their permanent posi- 

 tions. 



A good Squash vine should produce two or thiee first 

 class fruits, if, however, one flower «iets \ er\ eirh in 

 the season the Mne miy de\oti most ot its iiki^hs 



to the perfe( tion of that biii^l itmi n 1 n i 1 1 \ 



others or maj set them too i m 1 1 » 



them to mituie If it is .1 1 11 iIm 



plants sh ill produce iiKM. tl I 1 i, 



tious, as luanj is a 

 a single \ ine and 11 

 exceeded Squash v 

 under general condii 



i hoe. When the very best results are 

 desired, particularly for the home garden, hills may be 

 prepared by digging out a bushel of .soil and filling the 

 place with rich earth and fine manure. It is expected 

 that not more than three to five of the plants will finally 

 be left to each hill; but there are many contingencies to 

 be considered. The young plants may be taken off by 

 cutworms or by other insects, or they may be caught by 

 frost. 



If it is necessary to start the plants in advance of the 

 season, the seeds may be planted in pots or boxes in a 

 forcing-house or hotbed about three weeks before it is 

 time to set them in the field. If the seeds are started 

 much earlier than this, the plants are likely to get too 

 large aud to become stunted. When set in the field, the 



me cases this uuuibei ma} be 

 1 tend to root at the joints, but 

 5 this should be pre\ ented, be 



2384 Summer Bergen SQuash a form of Cucurbita Pepo 



cause it tends to prolong the crowing sn^nn of the 

 vine It IS usually well, till I' t 1 t lit* flu 1. mts oi 

 casionally when the hoeiiv ' ' 1 1 1 h tli \ me 



should not be moved or disi 11 1 1 1 1 mii n ip 



plies particularly in the sh I tin 



North, where CM r\ iffortinti 1 i n I 1 . n il I. tin 



plant to set its fiuit . nU m ili i~on md ti iipletc 



Its growth befon 1 ill 



There are se\ei ill II mi ml lis, ises of the Squish 

 Perhaps tbi most s. I n 1 ili 1 1 i| 1 d cucumber beetle, 

 whii h di stii \s 111 1 I I [ilmts This insect 



IS ill stiiiM il Willi ii lit since It works on 



.11 as on the upper, 



the field in order to attract the early crop of bugs, 

 thereby making it possible to destroy them. Prom these 

 early plants the bugs may be hand-picked, or they may 



