322 



Varieties commonly grown are the Norfolk, Vic- 

 toria, Long Season, Prickly Seeded and New Zea- 

 land. The latter is a variety not well known, 

 but is especially well adapted to summer conditions 

 and deserves a place in the home gardens. 



SQUASH 



While the squash is commonly found in a limited 

 way in almost every market, its value and merits 

 are fully appreciated by few people. Large areas 

 devoted to the cultivation of this crop are compara- 

 tively rare, while its cultivation in the home gardens 

 is more a matter of accident than design. The cul- 

 tivated types and varieties are extremely variable 

 and can be made to provide a continuous supply 

 of this vegetable from early summer until late win- 

 ter. On account of the ease with which it may be 

 stored, it should be more highly esteemed in con- 

 nection with the home gardens, especially in provid- 

 ing a greater variety of vegetables for consumption 

 during the winter months. Its commercial cultiva- 

 tion is confined almost entirely to small areas in 

 connection with market gardens surrounding the 

 larger cities. 



Squash, with its variable characteristics, lends 

 itself to a great diversity of soils and a wide range 

 of climatic conditions. The winter squashes thrive 

 best upon the clay loams. The plant is a rank 

 feeder and should be supplied with an abundance 

 of available food, a condition most satisfactorily met 

 by the liberal use of well-rotted stable manure in 

 the hills. Early plowing should be the rule and 

 the soil fined and compacted all the way down. The 

 hills of the large-vining varieties should be from 

 seven to eight feet apart in each direction. The 



