rw 



The ripe gourds hanging from the branches of a tree give a weird effect in the Gourds of all shapes and sizes ! Hercules' club, sometimes reaching a length of 

 garden. The bottle gourd grows two feet long five feet, is the longest; the smaller varieties are exquisitely colored 



Growing Gourds for Fun— By e. e. wilicox, 



New 

 Jersey 



A MULTITUDE OF DECORATIVE POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE OFFERED BY THE ORNAMENTAL GOURDS— THE 

 EASIEST AND SUREST WAY OF COVERING WASTE PLACES AND AFFORDING AMUSEMENT FOR THE CHILDREN 



I KNOW of nothing that grows more 

 freely and produces more blossoms in 

 return for so little work than a gourd vine, 

 and the curious fruits hanging in clusters, 

 scattered over trees, or drooping from arbors 



A dead tree is an excellent framework for a vine. 

 Plant close to the support 



add novelty and attractiveness to the garden. 

 The vines have a thrifty growth and results 

 are obtained the first year, as the plants are 

 annuals. 



Gourds are grown in the same manner as 

 pumpkins, squashes, or cucumbers. 



They are tender — are injured by frosts — 

 so that seed should not be planted until 

 about May ioth in the neighborhood of New 

 York. If larger crops are wanted seed may 

 be started in pots in the house, in March, 

 and transferred to the open when all danger 

 from frost is past. 



They must be trained on some support, 

 such as arbors, fences and trellises or even 

 allowed to run over a brush-heap (if the 

 large-fruited varieties are used), and trained 

 so that the gourds will hang clear. All the 

 large ones except Hercules' club must have 

 supports underneath the fruit. Pinch off 

 all shoots near the supports, so that the fruit 

 will hang clear when it is once formed. 

 When it turns yellow you may know it is prop- 

 erly developed. If the gourds appear to be 

 rotting, it is best to remove the insides at 

 once, and allow them to hang in the sun, or 

 near some artificial heat. 



The best results are obtained from plant- 

 ing fully exposed to the sun. A tree-top is 

 an excellent thing to train them over. Go 

 into the woods or fields and find a small tree 

 or an old top as long as you can handle, nail 

 any old limbs, roots or sticks on in irregular 

 fashion, but not too close together, and plant 

 a few nest-egg gourds at its base. If you 

 want to cover a fence, or some objectionable 

 place, use the small varieties, such as 

 miniature bottle, dishrag, spoon, mock 

 orange, lemon, or any that in case of a wind- 

 storm will not be damaged, as would the 

 larger varieties. 



When a gourd is once scratched, the blem- 



218 



ish will always remain, no matter how small 

 it may be; and if the puncture is large, the 

 fruit will rot or blast. Advantage may be 

 taken of this, and a little engraving done on 

 the gourd when it is small. 



The tree two months later. Use small fruited varieties 

 in situations exposed to high winds 



