1882.] 



THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



115 



THE SQUASH. 



As the Squash is of tropical origin, it is 

 altogether useless to sow the seed until the 

 ground becomes warm, and all danger of 

 frost is over, which in this latitude is about 

 the middle of May. Indeed, there is nothing 

 to be gained by planting earlier, for when 

 once established they grow with extreme 

 rapidity and great luxuriance. 



The Squash is highly prized by many, and 

 with a little care and attention as to the 

 proper selection of varieties and the preser- 

 vation of their fruit, they can be had in 

 perfection for at least nine months in the 

 year. It is also a vegetable that requires but 

 little skill and care in its 

 cultivation, and although 

 they will grow readily in 

 almost any soil, yet they 

 will more than repay a 

 liberal and generous 

 treatment, and as they 

 delight in a warm, rich 

 soil, it is best to manure 

 in the hill, care being 

 taken to break the ma- 

 nure up well, and also to 

 thoroughly and deeply 

 incorporate it with the 

 soil. At least a dozen 

 seeds should be placed 

 in each hill, and when 

 the plants become strong 

 and well established, all 

 should be removed with 

 the exception of three of 

 the most promising. 

 When young, the plants 

 should be sprinkled occa- 

 sionally with air-slaked 

 lime, ashes, or soot, in 

 order to preserve them 

 from the attacks of the 

 bug. 



There are numerous 

 varieties of the Squash, 

 some being of a yellow 

 color, others pale green, 

 and some mottled or 

 striped ; again, some are 

 smooth and hard, others 

 warty and rough ; they 

 are usually classed as 

 winter and summer vari- 

 eties, but from a cultural 

 stand-point it is prefer- 

 able to class them as bush 

 and running. For the 

 bush varieties the hills 

 may be placed about 

 three feet apart, and for 

 the running sorts six or 

 eight. Good stable ma- 

 nure is to be preferred. 

 As some sixteen or twenty 

 varieties are enumerated 

 in the catalogues of our leading seedsmen, 

 it is rather a difficult task for a novice to 

 select a few of the best, and although some 

 may differ with me regarding the merits of 

 the varieties named below, I believe that 

 any or all of them will prove to be sat isfac- 

 tory. 



Where garden space is limited, and only 

 one variety can be given one cannot do bet- 

 ter than to choose the Perfect Gem. For 

 amateurs I would have no hesitation in plac- 

 ing it at the head of the list, as it is excellent 

 both as a summer and winter Squash. It is 



remarkably productive, the fruit being from 

 four to six inches in diameter, and of a 

 creamy-white color. It is also an excellent 

 keeper in a cool, dry room, remaining in per- 

 fection until spring. It also has the peculiar 

 property of setting the fruit near the main 

 stalks before commencing to run ; the vines 

 occasionally reach the length of twenty feet. 



The Early Bush Summer Crookneck is the 

 best and richest flavored of the summer 

 sorts. It is very early and is also remark- 

 ably productive, the fruit being of an orange- 

 yellow color, covered with rough warty 

 excrescences. 



The Early Yellow Bush, Scolloped, is an 



GROUP OF SQUASHES. 



abundant bearer. It is a good, early Squash. 

 It is not as richly flavored as the preceding 

 sort, but is earlier. The White Bush, Scol- 

 loped, is a variety of this, differing in color 

 only Both varieties are more generally 

 known under the name of Patty Pan. 



The Turban or Turk's Cap Nos. 5 and 6, is 

 an excellent variety for fall and early winter 

 use. It is of a greenish-yellow color, occa- 

 sionally striped with white. The flesh is 

 thick and of an orange-yellow color, and of 

 fine flavor when properly ripe. 



The Yokohama is also an excellent early 



winter sort. The flesh is of a deep orange 

 color, sweet and dry. It is said to be supe- 

 rior to any Pumpkin for pies. When in 

 perfection it is a very desirable addition to 

 our list of Squashes, but with me has proved 

 to be very variable, some seasons being all 

 that could be desired, and at other times 

 almost worthless. 



The Mammoth No. 4 is desirable for exhi- 

 bition purposes principally, as the fruit can 

 be grown to an enormous size, some speci- 

 mens attaining a weight of over two hundred 

 pounds. 



The Winter Crookneck is of fair quality, and 

 is a good keeper. The fruit is of a pale yellow 

 color, with a long neck. 

 It is much prized in the 

 Eastern States, where 

 it is extensively grown for 

 fall and winter use. 



Canada Crookneck No. 

 2 is a small, early variety 

 of the preceding. It bears 

 and keeps well, and is 

 by many considered pref- 

 erable. 



The Hubbard No. 3 is 

 a well-known sort, and is 

 more extensively grown 

 than any other Squash. 

 It is the best table Squash 

 yet known, and is a gen- 

 eral favorite. It is an ex- 

 cellent keeping variety, 

 with a dry, fine-flayored 

 flesh, and a hard, flinty 

 skin when properly ripe. 



The Marblehead re- 

 sembles the Hubbard in 

 appearance, but is more 

 productive than that well- 

 known sort. It is also 

 said to be a better keeper, 

 but I do not find it to be 

 any improvement in this 

 respect. Its flesh is lighter 

 in color than the Hub- 

 bard, and is of excellent 

 flavor, sweet and dry, 

 and is a very desirable 

 variety. 



The Butman resembles 

 the Hubbard in size, but 

 can be readily recognized 

 from all other sorts by 

 its bright - green color, 

 being occasionally striped 

 with white. It has a thick 

 shell and cream -colored 

 flesh. Its flavor differs 

 from all other varieties 

 and is dry and sweet. 



The Boston Marrow No. 

 1 is very highly esteemed 

 by some, and is the most 

 popular kind in the Bos- 

 ton markets. The flesh is of a deep orange 

 color, and is finely flavored. 



Chas. E. Parnell. 



WINTER RADISHES. 



Winter Radishes should be sown during 

 August. The California Mammoth White 

 Winter Radish is the best variety. It is of 

 good, mild flavor, and may be kept in good 

 condition all winter in a cool cellar, if cov- 

 ered with sand. As with all Radishes, quality 

 depends largely upon quick growth. 



