192 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING 



Mushrooms. — Schools or homes ha\iiig cellars or dark 

 buildings not in use may well try the growing of mushrooms. 

 They form a delicious esculent and are considered a luxury 

 by many. The crop is a very precarious one to grow. 

 " Spawn " used for propagation may be obtained from seeds- 

 men and full cultural directions are usually furnished. 



Muskmelons are not as well adapted to growth in the 

 school garden as more hardy plants. They thrive only in the 

 warmest summer months. They do best in light, rich soil 

 and pay well for heavy applications of stable manure. Culture 

 and care are much the same as for cucumbers. The seeds 

 should not be planted in the open garden until the weather 

 is quite warm. Twelve to fifteen seeds are thinly planted 

 in a broad hill. This allows for the killing of some plants 

 by the flea beetles and striped beetles. After danger from 

 these enemies is past, the hills may be thinned to two or three 

 plants. 



A few hills of muskmelons may be started by planting 

 in pieces of sod in hotbeds or window boxes. These are trans- 

 planted to the open garden when warm enough. Kepeated 

 sprayings with Bordeaux and arsenate of lead mixture is 

 advisable for cucumbers, muskmelons and squashes. 



Melons with green flesh, such as Netted Gem, are highly 

 flavored, but are not so attractive in appearance as Osage, 

 Emerald Gem, and others with salmon flesh. (Fig. 111.) 



Okra, or Gumbo. — This hot-weather plant is extensively 

 grown in southern states for its green pods, which are used 

 in soups and stews, giving a rich flavor. 



The seed is sown in rich garden soil in late spring afte- 

 danger of frost is over. Eows should be three feet apart and 

 the plants thinned to ten inches apart in the rows. Clean 

 culture should be pmcticed, as for corn. 



Onion. — The school garden can grow early green or bunch- 

 ing onions. The plan would be to sow the seed of Silver Skin 

 or other hardy white varieties in early August in well-prepared 



