Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-06-15


Nv the heat and steam Tie H0,scl0ld
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The Fruit OF Creeping Vines.
Less attention is given by Weslcr
farmers to the production OF melons.
squashes and pumpkins than is a.
served. Few of our large farmers pay
any attention 10 them. The boys eon-
orally raise n few melons on the siio
formerly occupied by a hay-stack of
dung-hill, and the housewife oftpt
plants u few squash seed in the garlpf
where the vines run over the v,rota
bles and do a large amount of hstiu
Occasionally n small farmer rain
pumpkins in u corn field, rs is fhf
general custom in the Eastern andMd
die States. Few, however, devote q
considerable amount Of land in the rp
duction Of melons, squashes and pump
kins. Within the past few years several
farmers in the latitGde of the capital OF
this State, and further south, have
turned their attention to the raissgg
of melons as n market cr0p
and found IL profitable. The consump-
ton Of melons is RAPIDLY Increasing IN
all our cities and large towns. Chicato
has become one of the largest melon
markets in the world. During thcir
season not only carloads but train,
loads r required 20 supply TIE r.
mand. Melons have become a comma
article of food. They are found On 40
tables of hotels, restaurants and private
families. The old idea that they ate
unwholesome Is no longer enterta ned
Physicians 10Y give testimony IN favor
OF their hcalthfulncss. During the past
few years several professional eatl4,-
80 ,'"h amateurs have added 10 TIE
~ OF varieties and greatlv ia
proved thelr quality. Unless n f.,-o
l,,s IN s location that has }fitofat
sou anu climate and good .aciIifi,4
transportation, he may not find met.
profitable crop to mise Tor the ~
kct, bus ovorS f.-
enough Tor the supply of his own familt
Attention has also lately been give
To the production of squashes as 4 mar
ket crop. They are in demand for ia
supply of hotels and families at almos
all seasons of the year. Bakers nov
buy large quantities of squashes IL
making pics. Every few years there
quite n demand for squashes to send.h
the East. The shipment of squashes /,
England has commenced. and M
amount of them sent abroad will prof.
ably increase from year 10 year. Tn
bookkeeping varieties like the Huh
bard can be preserved during the win
ter with little liability to loss. and the
always command high prices IN IA
spriug. Many squashcs are now came
and dried. AS a substitute for m
sweet potato the squash has no equal
Eight tons of Hubbard squashes hayl
not unfrequently been raised ON
single acre of h ,hly-manured ana
well-cultiyated land. A crop like
this Will pay rs well as anything "A
farmer can produce when W.
take into consideration the cost
OF raising, The cost of seed
is very light and the expense of harvest.
ing small. Squashes should be raised
on dry and warm soil. II should be
made very rich with wcll-rotted stable
manure. Wood ashes and bone-meaL.
rs well as superphosphate Of lime. are
also excellent fertilizers for sauashcs. ns
they are for melons aud pumpkins. The
ground should be wei pulverized. but
II need not be plowcd deep. Poor
squashes Will be- produced ON clavev.or
damp soil, and they can not be relied
on to keep a long time. The planting
can be delayed tin most of the field
crops are put in. Many plant I'm rows
eight or ten feet apart, and Others 10
hills eight or ten feet distant from each.
other. But two plants ara aIlowedT
grow in a hill, though five Or six seeds
are planted. The hill Is made slight
sloping, like a saucer, and the seed r
covered about an inch aud % half dcol.
The earth above them X hattened aud
made tolerably compact with a hoe.
Pumpkins can be planted in the sags,
manner a, crashes, "
raised 90 good alyani ASsss ttQCA-
With corn by dropping the seed IN eyS
fourth or fifth hin. Melons, squashcg
and pumpkins, when grown in the fed,
require substantially the same cultiva.
ton, The soil about the plants should
be work with the hoe Oh garden trowel,
and the earth between the hills kept
mellow and free from weeds and guss
by the employment Of the cultiyator.
which can be run both ways. Afterthe
weather becomes quite warm the vines
VIZ HNNH 4N'N'A ANN HihNllNs anu III ~
often advisable 20 shorten them SO AS 10
prevent too much shade. Tho greatest
difficulty is with the little striped bug.
which in this latitude puts in his appear
n c early in June. The Young plants
can be protected against this insect by
covering them with n small box having
a single pane Of glass fitted TO the
top and placed so that the rain
will run of from IL. small
boxes covered with MOSQUITO
netting answer the purpose nearly as
well. The plan Of busting the yonne
plants when they are wet with dew with
land plaster is recommended TO extern
sive growers. Soma give no protection
to the plant, but seed liberally so that
enough plants will survive the work of
the insects. A few plant the seed of in
terlor varieties Of squashcs In he vicin-
ity of the hills and in.ihat way provide
food for the bugs. Melons. stuashes
and pumpkins should be gathered be-
fore heavy frosts occur. A portion of
the vine should be left on the stem and
they should be allowed % become dry
before they are placed under cover.
Squashes and pumpkins are valuable As
food for fowls and animals. Caule and
growing hogs will cat them h theif
| soDtate, but il Is better to cook them
| A. and ho~S that a,. l-