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 available nitrogen. In order that the 



2382. Winter or Canada Crookneck Squash Cucurbita 

 moschata. 



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 usually early. The vines run very 

 little, or not at all. The various summer Squashes 

 belong to this category, and most of them are varieties 

 of Cucurbita Pepo. The hills of bush varieties are 

 usually planted as close together as 4x4 feet. On high- 

 priced land they are often planted 3x4 feet. The long- 

 running varieties comprise the fall and winter types; 

 and to this category may also be referred, for cultural 

 purposes, the common field pumpkins. There is much 

 difference between the varieties as to length of vine. 

 On strong soils, some varieties will run 15-20 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 



2383. Summer Crookneck Squash Cucurbita Pepo form. 



are usually planted in hills where the plants are to 

 stand. If the land is mellow and rich, these hills are 

 nothing more than a bit of ground 12-18 inches across, 

 which has been freshly hoed or spaded and leveled off. 

 On this hill, from six to ten seeds are dropped, and they 

 are covered an inch or less in depth. In order to pro- 

 vide the seeds with moisture, the earth is usually 

 firmed with the 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 and to become stunted. When set in the field, the 



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 three first- 

 class fruits ; if, however, one flower sets very early in 

 the season, the vine may devote most of its energies 

 to the perfection of that single fruit and not set many 

 others, or may set them too late in the season to allow 

 them to mature. If it is desired, therefore, that the 

 plants shall produce more than one fruit, it is advisable 

 to pick off the first fruit, providing it sets long in ad- 

 vance of the appearance of other pistillate flowers. These 

 remarks apply particularly to winter squashes in north- 

 ern regions. With small varieties and under best condi- 

 tions, as many as a haif-dozen fruits may be got from 

 a single vine, and in some cases this number may be 

 exceeded. Squash vines tend to root at the joints; but 

 under general condit-. ms this should be prevented, be- 



8384. Summer Bergen Squash, a form of Cucurbita Pepo. 



cause it tends to prolong the growing season of the 

 vine. It is usually well, therefore, to lift the joints oc- 

 casionally when the hoeing is done, although the vine 

 should not be moved or disturbed. This precaution ap- 

 plies particularly in the short-season climates of the 

 North, where every effort must be made to enable the 

 plant to set its fruit early in the season and to complete 

 its growth before fall. 



There are several enemies and diseases of the Squash. 

 Perhaps the most serious is the striped cucumber beetle, 

 which destroys the tender young plants. This insect 

 is destroyed with the arsenites; but since it works on 

 the under sides of the leaves as well as on the upper, 

 it is difficult to make the application in such way as to 

 afford a complete protection. The insects also are likely 

 to appear in great numbers and to ruin the plants even 

 whilst they are getting their fill of arsenic. If the 

 beetles are abundant in the neighborhood, it is best to 

 start a few plants very early and to plant them about 



2385. The Pineapple Summer Squash, one of the Scallop or 

 Pattypan type Cucurbita Pepo. 



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

 thereby making it possible to destroy them. From these 

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



