36 
FARMING JUST 
(Ayfore)() 

Four cirts and one boy from four 
states are winners in the ‘Show the 
Folks’’ contest sponsored by Eastern 
States Farmers’ Exchange for garden- 
ers among the younger set. 
From scores of entrants one of the 
gitls, Eleanor I. Parker, Uxbridge, 
Massachusetts, had the distinction 
of having earned two awards in the 
contest — one for her letter telling 
about raising Eastern States Golden 
Cushaw squash and another for an 
account of her experiences with the 
Eastern States Utah Valencia onion. 
Other high ranking youngsters are 
Lois N. Jones, age 9, Waitsfield, 
Vermont, for a letter about Eastern 
States White Mountain watermelon; 
Nancy Hawthorne, Maple Street, 
Hazardville, Connecticut, concerning 
her Maine Yellow Eye beans from East- 
ern States; Majorie H. Pelkey, age 
14, Chester, Massachusetts, who 
grew Eastern States Great Lakes \et- 
tuce; and William H. Tucker, age 11, 
Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania, for his 
report on the production of Eastern 
States Golden Cross Bantam corn. 
Six awards of $25 Victory Bonds 
were offered last January to writers 
of the most informative letters telling 
about their experiences in producing 
one or more of six new varieties of 
vegetables. These elite varieties were 
introduced to Eastern States members 
after having passed the quality tests 
of Eastern States plant production 
specialists. 
Each letter was to tell about only 
one variety but every contestant 
could write as many letters as he or 
she desired. (Editor’s note: Some let- 
ters were disqualified because only 
one letter was used to tell a little bit 
about each variety. Too bad.) 
Here are some excerpts from the 
prize-winning letters: 
Writing about Eastern States Utah 
Valencia onions, Eleanor Parker is 
specific and to the point. She states: 
‘“From 570 feet of Utah Valencia 
onion plants I harvested about six 
bushels of large, firm, yellow-skinned 
onions. 
“The Utah Valencias are a mild 
onion, thereby making them ideal for 
boiling and frying as well as for 
flavoring other foods. 
‘Though a form of the blight at- 
tacked the green onion tops, partially 
killing them, the onion bulbs con- 
tinued to grow to a large size which 
proved the Urah Valencia variety is a 
hardy onion. 

Eleanor Parker of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, who 
earned two awards in the “Show the Folks” 
contest. 
“My family was so impressed with 
this new variety of onion that we 
plan to raise only the Utah Valencias 
in years to come.’’ 
Of the Golden Cushaw squash, Eleanor 
opines that it is a far superior variety 
of winter squash than the usual Ver- 
mont or Blue Hubbard and should, 
within a short time, become the lead- 
ing winter squash in the Northeast. 
“The eastern section of this coun- 
try is gradually becoming infected 
with dry rot and the squash bugs, 
with which the usual well-known 
varieties of winter squashes are un- 
able to cope. However, the Golden 
Cushaw is not affected by this form of 
rot or by the squash bugs, thereby 
making this variety easy to grow, 
when oftentimes it is practically im- 
possible to raise the Vermont or Blue 
Hubbard squashes. 
‘While the Vermont and Blue Hub- 
bard squashes have thick skins neces- 
sitating considerable waste, the Golden 
Cushaws are usable right up to a very 
thin skin, making the waste practi- 
cally nothing. 
‘“As to the color, flavor, size and 
texture of the Cushaws, their meat is 
a bright orange in color and is smooth 
in texture — not stringy or watery 
as some squashes frequently are.”’ 
William Tucker’s letter shows close 
observation of his plot and accurate 
accounting. In his report he says, 
“This year I planted two rows of 
Golden Cross Bantam Yellow Hybrid 
corn. The rows were 30 feet long and 
three feet apart. Other corn near-by 
may have helped cross-pollinate it. 
The yield was three bushels of corn 
and several pecks of smaller ears. 
This seemed quite good as compared 
to other corn in our garden. Many of 
the stalks had two and three ears. I 
also planted four to five kernels to a 
hill. I did some thinning out where it 
was too crowded, but most of it was 
allowed to grow. We sold at least six 
dozen ears at 35 cents a dozen. The 
test we ate here at home and liked it 
so well that none was canned, but 
was put right on the table. I saved 
about $10 because it cost about that 
much at a store.”’ 
Youngest ofthe winners, Lois Jones, 
had some difficulties, but is delighted 
to find a watermelon that will stand 
adverse conditions and ripen in the 
short growing season of her section 
of the country. She writes: ‘‘ As soon 
as the weather was right, I planted 
my watermelon seeds. 

William H. Tucker, 11, Pleasant Gap, Pennsyl- 
vania, reported on his production of Golden Cross 
Bantam sweet corn, 
