The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-02
Editorial NOtings.

one OF the best two or three American
agricultural newspapers. Those OF our
readers who would like to see sample
COPIES had better send for them. The
Stock,nan and Farmer has many first
rate practical contributors, and the
farming OF the Ohio Valley and adjoin-
ing regions is as good as anywhere in
America.
OUR old friend-if we may so class
him-Mr. Timothy Wheeler of Water
bury Center, VT, asks some questions
in another column which others
amongst our readers may be able to
answer better than ourself. As to the
squash questions, we do not know that
the possible limit to which they can be
forced has ever been fully determined
by experiment. We have seen them
spring up on dung heap, and on
single vine yield upwards of four hun
bred pounds of fruit. If all this growth
could be forced into a single squash,
something truly phenomenal would APP
pear; but there can hardly be doubt
that the larger crop would be gathered
= when more specimens are allowed to
grow. The longer the season allowed
TO them, the larger the product is likely
to be; and the season may be easily
heightened at both ends by protection
against cold. -
As to feeding squashes with milk, we
are inclined to doubt whether squash
plant is any better fed with milk than
with manure; and it hardly seems
to be in accord with known facts
that milk should be assimilated by
squash vine in the same way as by
calf-or otherwise than through the alb
sorption of the decaying milk; in which
case it would not differ from other ma
nures, equally rich. Altogether, we
are inclined to suspect that milk-fed
squashes are rather mythical produc-
tons. Can anybody tell how the pro-
cess is conducted?
WE raise considerable piece of Hub
bard squashes every year as second
crop on the same ground where early
peas are grown. The seed is planted as
soon as the soil is sufficiently warm, and
the season advanced beyond the risk of
frost. The plants have begun to run
by the time the pea crop has been gath
cred, and as soon as this is done the
ground is thoroughly cultivated, and a
quart of " Bradley's XII" worked into
about two square yards of soil about
each hill-two vines to hill being left
at the last thinning, the hills being eight
feet apart each way. In this way we
have got from five to eight tons of
squashes per acre, which we usually
ship to Massachusetts along with the
September shipments of our potato
crop. We do not allow these squashes
to get frosted in the least, if we can
help it. They ride very nicely, piled
not more than two deep-lightest on
top-upon the potatoes. They COM
monty net from $40 to $50 per ton.
AS for nipping the lateral shoots OF
squash vines, we prefer to nip off the
later settings of fruit, so as to throw a Il
the material elaborated by the leaves into
those that are surer to ripen. We can
not say that we have ever seen any ad-
vantage in nipping the ends of the vines,
except so far as convenience requires.
Nor do we nip the ends of grapevine
shoots, preferring TO let them grow,
and nip out the imperfect and redun-
dant clusters. Nothing harms grape
vine more than to let it over-b bear; but
this does not apply to an annual plant,
like the squash; though it is right to
remove young squa hes that set toe
late to mature-letting the strength
of the vine go to enlarge the earlier
settings. -
Mr.. WHEELER's experiments with
the wild Mexican potato will be fol
lowed with interest, although we be-
lieve there is no record Of anything use
full being derived from this species.
is quite possible, however, that it may
be tanned and brought into subjectior
and usefulness-if not as thorough
bred, then perhaps by crossing will
our cultivated forms Of South American
origin. 1t will be good thing, indeed
if we can get bug.proof variety
though we find the bug" preferrin
the potato, will devastate the eggplant
and other plants of the solanum family
when starved to it.
FARMERS throughout the country ar
discussing and trying to understan
questions connected with money; an
if they cannot at once entirely succeed
II 10 No mora Than nap ha aaid nf M n