THE SQUASH. 209 



acre to raise it. When the land is ver^ good, the rows 

 may be only eighteen inches apart. This plant, like the 

 cauliflower, must never be stunted, but be pushed from 

 the start. 



When the leaves are about an inch broad, the plants 



Fig. 57. SPINACH. 



are thinned to from six to eight inches. The crop must 

 be frequently hoed. The Norfolk crop is marketed in 

 March, and is packed tightly in ventilated barrels. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE SQUASH (CucurUta Pepo.) 

 Courge Melonee, French ; Melonenkurbis, German. 



The Squash is a native of the Levant, and was first 

 introduced into England in 1597. The Summer Squash 

 is an early vegetable, bears transportation well, if picked 

 at a proper stage of growth, and brings satisfactory, 

 though never fancy prices. Sometimes, however, a part 

 of the crop may be left on the farmer's hands. With the 



