PUMPKIN. 19 
PUMPKIN. 
A seed crop of pumpkin is managed as for cucumber 
and melon seed. As directed for them, the same care 
must be taken to prevent mixture; pumpkins will mix 
with each other, with any variety of squash and with 
gourds. 
In the Northern States seed is sown from May 5th to 
May 15th, in hills eight feet apart each way, eight to 
twelve seeds in a hill, thinning out subsequently to two 
of the strongest plants in a hill. 
Harvest.—Fruit may remain on the vines until 
after first frost, except soft-shelled varieties, which 
should not be allowed to be subject to a heavy frost, as 
it will cause them to rot. In the Middle West, the 
usual method is to remove the soft-shelled varieties 
early in October, hard-shelled sorts about October 10th. 
They should be handled carefully to avoid cracking or 
bruising, and should be gathered in a pile on a spot 
"to the south side of a barn or shed. In case of cold 
weather, protect with a light covering of straw or hay, 
and allow to remain for a week or two to more properly 
mature the fruit before extracting seed. Should any 
show signs of rotting, put them into a separate pile. 
Extracting Seed.—Seed is removed by cutting open 
in the middle with a spade, a corn knife, or anything 
similar, dull enough to avoid cutting of seed. With a 
heavy iron spoon, the seed pulp is then scooped out 
into bushel baskets. 
Washing and Cleaning.—Washing is done the 
same day that seed is taken out, without any fermenta- 
tion whatever, except that the brown-seeded varieties 
may stand one day before washing. White-seeded 
varieties will become discolored if subjected to fermen- 
tation, which would injure their market value. It is, 
