192 GARDEN STEPS 



Keep the earth about the hills well stirred, till it is 

 covered with the foliage. After that the weeds which 

 struggle to the light can be easily pulled out by hand. 



As the blossoms appear, remember that on this 

 plant, as on the cucumber, there are male, or stam- 

 inate blossoms, which bear no fruit. These are the 

 flowers that appear on the long stems. The female 

 blossoms must be fertilized by the pollen from these 

 before they produce fruits. 



Watch the squashes as they develop. They must 

 be gathered before the skin and seeds get hard. 

 It is not easy to judge by the size, as some ripen 

 before they have grown very large. Try them with 

 the thumb nail. If the skin is too hard, it will re- 

 sist the pressure. Such squashes should be cut off 

 and discarded, for, if left on the vines, they will 

 draw greatly on the roots for nourishment to ripen 

 their seeds. 



As summer squashes demand a good deal of water, 

 a practical method for the home or school garden is 

 to plant four hills in a square, four feet apart. An 

 old pail or keg, with holes in the bottom, may be 

 sunk in the center of the square and filled with water 

 during dry weather. This supplies the moisture 

 from below and draws the roots down toward the 

 cool, moist subsoil. Summer squashes thus wa- 

 tered, if they are well nourished, and if none are 

 allowed to ripen, will keep on producing good fruit 

 till killed by a heavy frost. 



