THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 23 1 



SQUASH 



There are several well-defined groups of squashes. 

 Among the best known are Scallop and Crookneck, 

 which form bushlike plants about 4 or 5 feet across, 

 and the running squashes, which include the late 

 varieties. The bush squashes are early sorts. 

 Squashes are planted in rich soil, the summer va- 

 rieties about 6 feet apart and the winter sorts 8 

 or 10 feet. Six or eight seeds should be placed in 

 each hill, and when the plants have grown well, the 

 poorer ones should be thinned out, leaving only 

 two plants to the hill. Early kinds are often started 

 on inverted sods or in berry boxes, cold frames or 

 hotbeds, and then transplanted to the fields. 



Summer varieties are not grown for fall use, as 

 they do not keep well, and also because they are 

 not fit to eat after the skin becomes hard. Winter 

 squashes can be used at any time, but are usually 

 allowed to mature. Invariably they should be 

 gathered before frosty weather, as even a slight 

 frost injures their keeping qualities. They are 

 often placed in piles in the field, and covered with 

 the vines at night, until they are thoroughly dry 

 and the skins have become flinty. At least an 

 inch of the stem should be cut with each fruit. 

 This serves as a handle. The fruit should always 

 be handled with the greatest care to prevent even 

 slight bruises. Among the early varieties are Sum- 

 mer Crookneck, Bush Scallop, and Boston Marrow. 

 The late varieties include Hubbard, Marblehead, 

 Essex Hybrid, Bay State, and Winter Crookneck. 

 This last variety is not of as good flavor as the 

 others. It is about equal to pumpkins. 



Squashes expected to keep well must be gath- 

 ered carefully just before the first frost. Leave the 



