THE CROOKNECK SQUASH. 211 



Either of these squashes may produce about teu tons to the 

 acre, which is a first-rate crop. 



Question. What is your plan for keeping them through 

 the winter? 



Mr. Ware. We have squash houses for the purpose of 

 keeping them, arranged with shelves inside, and provided 

 with thorough ventilation, and means of keeping a fire most 

 of the time, to keep a dry, even temperature all the time. 

 We watch them closely, and just as soon as a squash begins 

 to rot, it is taken out, because the fungus that makes the 

 squash rot is producing spores continually, the air becomes 

 impregnated with the seed of that rot, and it will permeate 

 the whole house. You will smell it when the rot has just 

 commenced. Hunt out the infected squash and remove it. 

 The longer it remains in a room, the more the rot will spread. 

 It is like an infectious disease. It is like the smut in an 

 onion field. You must look out for the spores of the fungus 

 which produce this rot. The way to preserve squashes is to 

 keep an even, dry temperature, without much variation. 



Question. What time do you plant? 



Mr. Ware. The 15th of May is about as early as it is 

 safe to plant, and they may be planted from that time up to 

 the 10th of June. 



Question. What is your opinion of the crookneck? 



Mr. Ware. We do not grow that very much, from the 

 fact that the demand is very limited. The crookneck is just 

 as good as it ever was, but the new squashes are so much better, 

 that there are few persons who care for the crookneck squash. 

 I will say here, that the crookneck differs from the other 

 varieties of which I have spoken, inasmuch as it does not 

 send roots down from the stem into the earth to feed the 

 squash, as the others do. In fact, it is a different species. 

 The crookneck squash will not mix with these squashes ; 

 there is no family relation. They will not unite ; but all 

 these others will mix with eaeh other, and also with the 

 different varieties of pumpkins. 



Mr. Moore. I desired to talk a little here this afternoon 

 on the importance of procuring good seed, but it is so near 

 car time, that there will be hardly any time for discussion. 1 

 feel bound to say this in regard to the machines that the 



