VEGETABLE MARROWS 127 



of March, and early in May Marrows may be obtained 

 at a season when choice vegetables are not plentiful. 



Marrows succeed in cold frames with manure 

 as the heating agency or in frames heated with hot 

 water in moderation. Ample ventilation is needful 

 in favourable weather, with a temperature of 60 at 

 night, indeed 5 less will suffice at the start, and 10 

 higher by day. Grow them in good loam, and if 

 they are inclined to run too much to leaf, take out 

 the points of the shoots. Plants grown thus do not 

 set their flowers freely if kept too close, so that ample 

 ventilation must be given, with liberal supplies of 

 liquid manure, damping the plants overhead early in 

 the afternoon and when the frames are closed. An- 

 other point in frame culture is to see that there is 

 only a mild bottom heat. Large masses of hot 

 manure give out a too violent heat, so that it is better 

 to use a good proportion of fresh leaves or manure 

 fermented before use. 



Marrows in the Open. Marrows are easily grown 

 out-of-doors, but even in this case timely shelter at the 

 start is well repaid. As the seed is very fleshy warmth 

 is necessary to germination, so that too much mois- 

 ture must not be given until growth is pushing freely 

 through the soil. The seed is best sown in pots, two 

 or three seeds in each five-inch pot, or one in a smaller 

 size. Place them in a warm house, or if a glass 

 structure is not available plunge the pots in the 

 warm manure in frames. 



Wherever raised the plant must be above the soil 



