Squashes and the Like 



413 



they may be killed, and the later frame -grown melon 

 or cucumber plants are then relatively safe. 



Squashes, watermelons and cucumbers are usually 

 planted in the field, although if early results are wanted 

 and if the region is cold and the season short, it is well 

 to start them in frames. Muskmelons are usually 

 started in frames. All cucurbitous plants transplant 

 with difficulty ; therefore it is advisable to plant the 

 seeds on inverted sods, in pots or in small boxes. 

 These methods have been described in some detail on 

 pages 190 to 194. It is imperative that the plants be 

 stocky and hard when taken to the field, although they 

 must not be stunted. If they have been grown too 

 warm and are ^^soft,'' they will be injured by the sun 

 and winds when transplanted, and will be later than 

 plants that are started directly in the field. 



The land should be given the best of surface tillage. 

 Every effort should be made to get the plants so well 

 established that the fruits begin to set before the severe 

 weather of midsummer. The plants and the fruits are 

 succulent and need much moisture, and if this moisture 

 is lost in the spring through lack of proper preparation 

 of the land and neglect of surface tillage, a good crop 

 may be impossible, even though the subsequent tillage is 

 perfect. The land should also contain sufficient humus 

 or vegetable matter to hold a good supply of moisture. 

 It is ordinarily best to have the plants so vigorous that 

 several fruits set simultaneously. If one fruit sets two 

 or three weeks in advance of the others, it is likely to 

 consume so much of the energy of the vine that the sub- 

 sequent fruits remain small. In fact, it may be well to 



