126 POPULAR VEGETABLES 



too great a run, and the flowers refuse to set. It is 

 far better to follow the plan of the market grower, 

 and plant in rows in a well-manured soil. Grown 

 thus the growth is not so wild, and more fruitful. 

 But market fruits are, as a rule, too coarse and large ; 

 although, unfortunately, for the purposes of sale, size 

 may be essential, it is not necessary in private gardens. 

 It must also be remembered that no loss results from 

 cutting the fruits when small, as three or more are 

 produced in the place of one of big dimensions. An- 

 other point is that the small varieties of Marrows are 

 not sufficiently grown, for the reason that they are 

 more prolific and of better flavour. An excellent 

 Marrow is the new Perfection, which is exactly the 

 size for the table. Other good varieties are Pen-y- 

 Byd and the Custard Marrows, which are far 

 better than the old large forms which find so much 

 favour. 



Marrows in Frames. The Marrow needs pro- 

 tection at the start, but the best practice is to grow 

 the early lot in frames, as then a supply is obtained 

 a month earlier, and at a season when they are appre- 

 ciated. With such varieties as Perfection and Pen-y- 

 Byd frame culture is simplified, as they produce fruits 

 little larger than a cricket ball, and in great abund- 

 ance if the plants are not given too much heat ; they 

 make a short-jointed growth, and are grown in ordin- 

 ary frames with a little bottom heat to promote a 

 reasonably quick growth. Seed sown in February 

 will result in seedlings ready to plant out at the end 



