PUMPKIN. 79 



PUMPKIN. 



A seed crop of pumpkin is managed as for cucumber 

 and melon seed. As directed for them, the same care 

 must be taken to prevent mixture; pumpkins will mix 

 with each other, with any variety of squash and with 

 gourds. 



In the Northern States seed is sown from May 5th to 

 May 15th, in hills eight feet apart each way, eight to 

 twelve seeds in a hill, thinning out subsequently to two 

 of the strongest plants in a hill. 



Harvest. Fruit may remain on the vines until 

 after first frost, except soft-shelled varieties, which 

 should not be allowed to be subject to a heavy frost, as 

 it will cause them to rot. In the Middle West, the 

 usual method is to remove the soft-shelled varieties 

 early in October, hard-shelled sorts about October 10th. 

 They should be handled carefully to avoid cracking or 

 bruising, and should be gathered in a pile on a spot 

 to the south side of a barn or shed. In case of cold 

 weather, protect with a light covering of straw or hay, 

 and allow to remain for a week or two to more properly 

 mature the fruit before extracting seed. Should any 

 show signs of rotting, put them into a separate pile. 



Extracting Seed. Seed is removed by cutting open 

 in the middle with a spade, a corn knife, or anything 

 similar, dull enough to avoid cutting of seed. With a 

 heavy iron spoon, the seed pulp is then scooped out 

 into bushel baskets. 



Washing and Cleaning. Washing is done the 

 same day that seed is taken out, without any fermenta- 

 tion whatever, except that the brown-seeded varieties 

 may stand one day before washing. White-seeded 

 varieties will become discolored if subjected to fermen- 

 tation, which would injure their market value. It is, 



