io8 
Garden Work 
be gradually hardened off. They should be planted out in 
the beginning of June, in well-trenched and well-manured 
soil. Many people make up an elaborate manure heap for 
the Vegetable Marrows, but this is not necessary; in fact, 
it is sometimes harmful, as when the roots get down into 
the manure the plants grow very strongly, and do not 
produce much fruit. The flowers which are produced 
rarely set, or frequently “damp off” after setting. Where 
the manure heap is properly made, with the idea of pro- 
ducing more bottom heat to the plants, it is very different. 
A trench should be thrown out, and afterwards filled with 
fresh horse manure and half- decayed leaves mixed to- 
gether. Then the top of this should be covered over 
with freshly cut turf, grass side downwards, and after- 
wards the soil should be thrown up over the heap, which 
should be about i ft. deep on top. A hollow in the top 
of the heap should be left, in which the plants should be 
planted. Sufficient water should then be given to reach 
the roots of the plants. The turfs on the top will pre- 
vent the roots from getting into the manure practically 
the whole of the season, yet they will get the benefit of 
the extra heat, especially early in the season. Though 
helpful to the plants in producing extra heat in the soil, 
it is not necessary to have manure heaps at all, as the 
plants will grow and fruit very well on ordinary rich garden 
soil. They will even bear in odd corners, such as on the 
top of a rubbish heap, if sufficient soil is put on to give the 
plants a start. The decaying vegetation will supply the 
heat, and also the food necessary for their growth. Or, 
again, they may be grown on any heap of soil which 
may be temporarily lying about, thus covering it with 
