330 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



seen them planted on great heaps of 

 decayed leaf-mould; on this they 

 grow and fruit amazingly. They 

 may, however, be successfully grown 

 in any ground by taking out a few 

 spits of earth and digging in a 

 barrow-load of manure. Summer 

 Marrows do well planted in old 

 ditches or dykes that are compara- 

 tively dry during the summer 



months. The usual time for sowing 

 seed of Marrows is in May and 

 June, and it is sown where it is to 

 remain, having a flower-pot or hand- 

 light placed over it until it has ger- 

 minated. It is a good plan to soak 

 the seed in water for a few hours 

 previous to sowing. The same re- 

 marks as to culture apply to all the 

 tribe of Gourds. 



Long Yellow Vegetable Marrow. — Runner stem i6 to 

 1 8 ft. long, with broad, lobate leaves. The fruit is three times 

 as long as it is thick, and not longer than i6 or i8 in. Skin 

 pale yellow, turning to gold as it ripens, smooth or slightly 

 ribbed on the upper half next the stalk. It resembles the old 

 Vegetable Marrow, but is longer and less ribbed. The flesh is 

 more delicate too, and is at its best when the fruit is about half 

 grown. 



Brazilian Sugar Gourd. — A plant with long, slender, running 

 stems. Leaves lobed, rough, of a very dark green colour, and 



finely crimped and puckered ; 

 fruit oblong, rather short, 

 swollen in the middle, with 

 five faintly marked ribs, and 

 sometimes slightly warted ; 

 skin green, turning orange 

 when ripe ; flesh yellow, thick, 

 and very sweet. This variety 

 is highly to be recommended, 

 on account of its earliness, 

 and the abundance and good 

 quality of its fruit, which keeps 

 for a long time. It ripens 

 half-early. 



Patagonian Squash. — A 

 plant with very long running 

 stems, and large, lobed, dark 

 green leaves. Fruit from 12 to 20 in. long, and 6 to 8 in. across, 

 traversed from end to end by five very regular ribs, which form 

 so many prominent rounded flutings; skin smooth, of an extremely 

 dark green, almost black, a colour which it retains when ripe ; 

 flesh yellow, of medium quality. This variety is remarkable for 

 ■its hardiness and productiveness. 



Under the name of Alsatian Gourd, a variety has been highly 

 -spoken of which resembles the Patagonian Squash, except that 

 [the fruit is less angular and of a lighter green colour. When the 



Brazilian Suo;ar Gourd. 



