Chapter XIII 



CUCUMBER. MELON. PUMPKIN. SQUASH 



planting date would be about March 15th. A light 

 loamy or sandy soil is best. Put a handful of com- 

 plete fertilizer and a shovelful of well-rotted manure 

 or compost in each hill, mix well with the soil and 

 put two inches of "plain dirt" on top. I prefer low 

 hills that are very little if any above the ground level, 

 each hill about a foot in diameter. Sow plenty of 

 seed — about fifteen seeds scattered all over the hill, 

 covered half an inch deep and firmed with the back 

 of a hoe. When the vines are well up, thin out half 

 of them ; when the remainder begin to run, thin 

 them out so as to leave only three — well spaced. Cul- 

 tivate and hoe (shallow) until the vines prevent. 

 Some growers practise nipping off the tips of lead- 

 ing shoots when three or four feet in length, to 

 force out side shoots and hasten fruiting. 



These crops — especially melons and cucumbers — 

 are oftentimes hurried along by planting the seed 



Plant fJic seeds and use the hoe, 



Balmy he the zceather; 

 Grozi'th is sure though it be sloiv, 

 And tJie liarvest time we'll know. 



LL of the crops mentioned in 

 this chapter are tender and 

 seed -should not be planted in 

 the open ground in the North 

 until the weather is warm and 

 settled — say atout May 15th. 

 In Georgia, I am told, the 



