VEGETABLE GROWING 



327 



of slender poles, or even a single pole, driven into the 

 ground, will support the large Limas which grow from 

 eight to ten feet tall and produce heavy crops of seed. 



Vine Crops. — Cucumbers, watermelons, muskmelons, 

 pumpkins and .squashes, which are known as vine crops, 

 ma3^ all be considered together, for in their manner of 

 growth, as well as in their soil and moisture requirements, 

 thev are very much alike. 



Copyright Tlie Oerlach-Barklow Co. 



Fig, 151. — Ready for the table. 



Pumpkins and squashes are usually planted in the open 

 ground after the danger of frost is past. We are not usu- 

 ally concerned as to when they will ripen, for we think of 

 them in connection with the autumn frosts. 



On the other hand, we are anxious to have watermelons 

 and muskmelons mature as early in the season as possible. 

 In starting either melons or cucumbers, our hotbed again 

 comes into use. By making paper boxes of heavy cardboard, 

 by using wooden strawberry boxes and filling them with rich 



