SQUASHES 415 



exception being the Canada Crookneck. The greatest confusion 

 arises from calling the bush squashes (including the summer crook- 

 necks, scallops, and cymlings) " squashes " and the large running 

 varieties of the same species " pumpkins." Botanists recognize 

 both types in the species pepo, but the trade calls the bush form 

 a " squash " and the trailing form a " pumpkin." In Europe all 

 species are called pumpkins, which avoids confusion but affords 

 no means of distinguishing the groups save through specific or 

 varietal names. 



Cultivation. From what has been said, it will at once be seen 

 that the squash lends itself to a diversity of soils and a wide range 

 of climate. The winter squashes of the maxima group thrive best 

 upon a rather retentive or clayey soil one that is well drained 

 but capable of retaining moisture and fertilizers. A clayey loam is 

 the ideal soil for squashes of this type. The rapid growth of the 

 plant demands an abundant supply of available food, and to pro- 

 vide this it is the common practice to use stable manure under the 

 hill or place where the seeds are planted. The soil is plowed early 

 in the season, and by successive cultivations a fine compact seed 

 bed is prepared. At planting time the rows are laid off in checks 

 8 feet apart each way, and at the intersection of the check marks 

 an excavation is made which will hold a peck or more of well-rotted 

 stable manure. The manure is placed in the excavation and 3 or 

 4 inches of earth drawn over it. The seed is then planted, the 

 common practice being to plant from 6 to 10 seeds I inch or 

 i \ inches deep in the layer of soil over the manure. As the squash 

 is native to tropical regions, seed planting in the open must be 

 deferred until all danger from frost has passed and the soil is 

 warm. The normal season for planting corn is usually satisfactory 

 for the squash. 



After the seedlings appear aboveground and the plants have 

 become thoroughly established and show a tendency to run, they 

 are thinned to 2 or 3 plants to the hill. Thinning, however, should 

 not be done until all danger of destruction by insects has passed. 

 Thorough cultivation should follow so that weeds will not interfere 

 with the growth of the plants nor with their development when they 

 begin to run and occupy the land. After the vines become strong 

 and are running rapidly they will require only sufficient cultivation 



