that it
both facilitates the formation of fruitful laterals and the early
maturing of the fruit. Whether the amount of product is increased by the
process, is not yet determined.

In giving the following descriptions, no attempt has been made to
present them under scientific divisions; but they have been arranged as
they are in this country popularly understood:--

_Summer Varieties._--

APPLE SQUASH.

Early Apple.

Plant running, not of stocky habit, but healthy and vigorous; fruit
obtusely conical, three inches broad at the stem, and two inches and a
half in depth; skin yellowish-white, thin and tender while the fruit is
young, hard and shell-like when ripe; flesh dry and well flavored in its
green state, and often of good quality at full maturity.

The fruit is comparatively small; and, on this account, the variety is
very little cultivated.

BUSH SUMMER WARTED CROOKNECK.

Early Summer Crookneck. Yellow Summer Warted Crookneck. Cucurbita
verrucosa.

[Illustration: Bush Summer Warted Crookneck Squash.]

Plant dwarfish or bushy in habit, generally about two feet and a half in
height or length; fruit largest at the blossom-end, and tapering
gradually to a neck, which is solid, and more or less curved; size
medium,--average specimens, when suitable for use, measuring about eight
inches in length, and three inches in diameter at the broadest part; the
neck is usually about two inches in thickness; color clear,
bright-yellow; skin very warty, thin, and easily broken by the nail
while the fruit is young, and suitable for use,--as the season of
maturity approaches, the rind gradually becomes firmer, and, when fully
ripe, is very hard and shell-like; flesh greenish-yellow, dry, and well
flavored; seeds comparatively small, broad in proportion to the length,
and of a pale-yellow color. About four hundred are contained in an
ounce.

The Bush Summer Crookneck is generally esteemed the finest of the summer
varieties. It is used only while young and tender, or when the skin can
be easily pierced or broken by the nail. After the fruit hardens, the
flesh becomes watery, coarse, strong flavored, and unfit for table use.

On account of the dwarfish character of the plants, the hills may be
made four feet apart. Three plants will be sufficient for a hill.

EARLY WHITE BUSH SCOLLOPED.

White Pattypan. Cymbling. White Summer Scolloped. Pattison Blanc. _Vil._

This is a sub-variety of the Early Yellow Bush Scoll