Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1882-05-04
SQUASH CULTURE.

i"o oest iand fOr SquaShes is freshly
turned sod We'll manurea the marrow
>t''a~h will bear Il good crop ON land that j.
fa'her dry and sandy, provided it is we'll
n'ahured bat the ha,d shell squaSheS, such
as The Hubbal, and the Marbehea,l, do bet
Ter upon rather strong land Squashes do
Wei upon drained meadow also, but in
moist seasons such squashes do not keep so
wei as those grown upon drier land. Most
gardeners who live near large market
ana manure we'll, grow the squash as late
crop alter an early crop OF green peas,
sprlnp beans, cabbage, spinach, lettuce or
dandellens The squash being cf tropical
nature, there is nothing gained by early
planting. and the crop is less subject to at
tacks from insects Of all kinds when n,antpd
rather late.
The seed OF hard-shelIed squashes should
De soWn from May 25 to June 10, and OF
marrow even as late as June 20 to June 25,
The squash rows Oh rich lana may be from
eight to twelve feet apart, and the space be-
tween the hills in lhe row four to six feet.
A little fine manure Or phosphate in the
MI Is useful to give the plants start, but
the squash roots strike from every joint of
the runners, and the main dependence for Il
crop is manure spread broadcast and har-
roWed in, for the squash roots do not strike
deeply.
The enemies Of the squash are: First
weeds, which are very easily subdued by
the cultvator and hoe. freely used between
the wide rows until the runners begin to
strike. when they should be lett TO them
selves; and, second, insects, which il left to
themselves, usually destroy the crop. The
chief insects are the small yellow-striped
bug, and the large, black, sinking aphls.
The small yellow bug is easily kept at bay
10y du>1ing lEe leaves a few times with plas-
ter and Paris green just as potato vines for
the beetle. After the squash vines get three
or foul leaves, they will outgrow this i'll
sect, unless very numerous. The black bug,
however, is far worse in his habits. and
harder to destroy he punctures the squash
vine with his section hose, after the manner
of mu:quito, and any vine that he attacks
speedily willis and dies. Paris green does
not injure his digestion. The only remedy
| know is to catch him mapping under a
piece of shngle, placed tor tile purpose
close to the squash vines, and to pinch him
severely with one hand while you hold your
nose with the otler This must be done
early in the morning before he sun gets
high enough to make him lively. A man
will easily go over an acre of squashes and
kill the bugs in half an hour, and this must
De done euery day until the vine begias to
'un, From this time till harvest they need
10 care, except to catch the woodchucks. ii |
my burrows are near, for they are very
ond of sauaslles.
When the first white frost has killed some
# the squash vines, no time should be lost
o harvest the crop. They may be hauled
irectly to the barn-tloor or other shelter.
where they may be kept for a month or two
With little covering of hay, ETC., or if it is
esired to keep them longer, they should be
led upon the shelves OF squash house.
where they will need plenty of air at first
D dry them off, and if carefully kept by
tove at a temperature of 45 to 60 degrees,
aey will keep pretty well till spring. They
eed looking over often to pick out the
pecked ones for sale, and usually sell at :
efficient advance of price to pay for the
'oube. The marrow squash will yield
'oIn six to fifteen or more tors per acre,
ccording to the richness of land, season,
&C.; eight ions is good average crop. The
hubbard and other hard-sheled kinds
ardly produce more than half as many.
ut the quality and price of the latter are
bout double that Of the marrow.
The crop OF both sqnaShes and cabbages
as very light in 1881, in consequence of
weather, and prices are higher
ian they have been for many years. The /
gerage price OF marrow squashes ut Bo>- {
IN is S15 to SIS per ton in autumn, and $40
S25 in winter.-IV. d. Phit5rick, III NeW |
notand Home Journal. II
-n-@-&-- .
Soft Giagsr6read.-On cupfnl OF molas- :,
IS, one cuptul ct hot water, one-halt cupiuI
f,,In at IA raj