196 GARDEN STEPS 



have plenty of air. A cellar usually is not suitable, 

 though if it is dry and airy, it may do. Placing 

 them in a back room over the kitchen or in the attic 

 of a well-heated house should preserve them in good 

 condition the winter through. 



Enemies 



There is no general disease which is likely to attack 

 the squash vine. If a humid spell in certain locaUties 

 tends to develop wilt, a light spraying of Bordeaux 

 would be required. 



The Vine-Borer. — There is, however, a worm, 

 the vine-borer, now prevailing in many parts of the 

 country, that makes squash culture a precarious 

 task unless the greatest care is taken to fight it. 

 The vine-borer has not as yet reached the northern 

 states in numbers, but seems to be on its way. 

 The grubs live in the soil and do not make themselves 

 known till the plant is well started and full of promise. 

 Then the leaves wilt, yellow spots appear, and in a 

 few days the luxuriant vine lies dying on the ground. 

 A close examination of the stem down near the earth 

 will disclose a small hole. If you slit the stem above 

 this hole, you will probably find the whitish worm in 

 the tunnel he has made. He cuts across the veins 

 of the plant and sucks out the sap as it comes from 

 the roots. 



This pest is especially dangerous to the vines, 

 because it is usually too late when he is detected. 



