Montana· Extension Servicein Agriculture and Home Economics

F. S. COOLEY, Director

Montana State Colle~e of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.and the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperating

Acts of Congress May 8 and June 30, 1914

NUMBER 49 JUNE,1921

How Prize Winning VegetablesAre Selected

BY

. J. R. c;AMPBELLAssistant Superintendent, Farmers' Institutes

'fhis brief circular is preparec1 ,with the ic1ea of glVmg necessary infol'ma­tion. to. the, prospective exhibitor of vegetables, More attJoactive exhibits willresult where the exhibitor understll.l~ds .the metlioc1s of selection and prepara-.tion of show speciinens.

GENERAL POINTS CONSIDEREDBecause vegetables· are grown to eat, table quality. is the general basis

upon which table vegetables are judged. Sizes and qualities desired by thehous'ewife for the home table are sizes ane) qualities that the judges will COll­sider best. Bruised, blemished, coarse, rough, forked, overgrown specimcnsshoulcl not· be entered for exhibit. Root CI'OpS, with tho exception of potatoes;should be washed carefully, avoiding skin damage, with the tops trimmed oftneatly, leaving half an. inch of top to prevent excessive "bleeding" of thevcgetable. It gen~n'al1y is not considered desirable to have potatoes washed,but surplus diiot is brushed or wipod off carefully with a soft cloth, care beingtnken not to damage the skin 01' to remove the natural surface color of thepotato.. If washed at alL they should fir.st be soaked for a few minutes andthen gently mov~d· about in lukewarm watei' until the surface· dirt dissolvesana falls off; .th en clriee) by placing between soft .cloths 01' by allowing thotubers to dry.in the air without rubbing.

. There is 110 objection to crisping or freshcning plants just before placingon exhibit. This can be clone by placing them in a pail lined with severalthicknesses of damp cloth and by covering them with a. damp cloth for twelveto. twenty-foul' hollI's. Lettuce can be freshened in this way satisfactorily.Unless the rules of the exhibition forbid,. the exhibitor can keep lettuce, celel'y,spinach and similar leaf crops fresh on exhibit by leaving a portion of thcl'oots on the plants ancl by wrapping these l'oots with wet cloths.

MONTANA EX'l'ENSION .SERVICE

Besides the points already mentioned 'it is important that aU the specimensin an exhibit be uniform in size, shape and eolor, as well as tl'ue to varietyand type.

SPEOIMENS RE,QumED'l'he number of speeimens required in an exhibit varies, within rather nar­

row limits, in different premium lists. It generally runs about as follows forindividual or plate exhibits:

Rhubarb Stalks,Cal'l'ots, Stocl,

NO. OF SPECIMENS1 to 22 to 3

3 to 6

o to 10

10 to 12

I·····.: ;

VEGETABLESMelons, Squash, PumpkinsCab];Jage, Celery, CauliflowCl', Parsley,

LettuceRutabagas, Kohl Rabi,

Stock Beets, StoekTurnips

Onions, Turnips, rromatoes, Beets, Pep·pel's, Carrots, Parsnips, Salsify, Sweet

. CornPotatoes

saORE aARD' AND SOORINGA score cal'll whieh is in general use and very satisfactory fOl' tlle ordinary

countl'y or community fail', gives a division of scoring points as follows;'

Uniformity of Sample 15Tl'Ueness to Type__..__ __ __ AOFreeelom from Blemishes. __ __10Tabl~ Quality __ __ 35

"Table q]lality" l'efers to propel' table size anel to crispness, freshness,fine graillo flavor amI other similar points. "Trueness to tYllCl J1 ca·n best beillustl'ated by example: Australian brown onions should be unmistakablybl'own and of the propel' shape and .size for this variety.

The following specifie directions will give an idea how val'ious vegetablesare examined and also of points considered in cases where this card is notsti'ietly applicable:

:P'OINT'S OBSERVED IN EIXA..MINING C'ERT:AIN VEGETABLESSweet Corn-Fresh, well filled, unifOl'Il1 in size, shape and color. Will kee}:_

m exhibition condition better if inner husks are left on but stI'ipped back onone side. Judges will pull baek the husks to examine if competHiou is elose.Kemels of off-eolor showing mixtUl'e will place an otherwise good example be­Iowa pool'er one that is not mixed.

Potatoes--FI'ee from pits, warts, exereseenees, scab, bl'own seurf, etc"mitrks of insect 01' digger damage; fresh, smooth, skin unbrOken, bl'ight eolored,eyes shallow. Should be matured, true ·to type 'and as uniforlll as possible insize, shape Rnd color, and of fair marketable size. FOl' most vRrieties in Mon·seore card used by thll Horticultural Department is divid.ed as f.ollows; Ulli-

HOW PRIZE WINNING VEGETABLES ARE SELEO~rED 3'

formity 15, trueness to typo 15, size 10, shallowness of eyes 10, freedom fromscab and blemishes 15, color and smoothness of skin 15, color of flesh 10,'condi­tion of flesh 10. Scab is considered a serious fault aud will cut the score'sevcrely.

Beets-Good, marketable beets of turnip type should not exceed three tothree alirl one-half 'inches in diamcter; should be of uniform size, shape and color,smooth and free from side I'oots and other blemishes. Should be bright, freshand firm, with crisp, fine grained flesh when aut. White rings in the cut fleshare aOllsidered evidenae of coarseness and lowered quality. Long beets shouldItave all the points named above except the shape of the beets. Should be twoto three inches in diameter one inah below the base of leaf scars. (Long bectsare not commonly grown in this state. They aannot equal turnip beets in qual­ity.) Tops should be trimmed off. Beets may be washed if care be taken notto break the skin.

Ca.rrots-Sometimes divided into short, intermediate and long type. Shorttype should be between one and ol,e-fourth to two and one-fourth inches acros"at top, depending on length, which should not be over three and one-hall' tofOUl' inches in the largest. Inter'mediate type not less than six inches long andtwo inches thick at thickest part, not tapering too I'apidly. Long or stock car­rots nine inches or longer and proportionately large. Color-except for whitecarrots-should be deep orange. Uniform size, shape and color, smooth andcleall, fresh and bright, free fl'om sunburn; crown where leaves are attachedshould be small, No coarse I'ings when cut.

Parsnips-Long type not less than fifteen inches long. Hollow crown notless than' twelve inches, and not less than two and one-half inches thick atthickest part. Free from rust, smooth, fresh. Light creamy color. Not, 'corky." May leave on one-half inch 01' one inch of top.

Salsify-Size, stmightness and smootlmess are especially desh-able in thisvegetable, The larger they are, up to aile and one-half inches top diameter,tlte better.

Turnips-Flat type should not exceed three and one'half inches in diam­eter, Color bright"anl1 clear whether white, yellow or purple top. Globe typetwo am] one-half to four inches. Smooth, bright, fresh, tops trimmed offsmooth. Fine grained flesh, sweet. Free fl'om side roots and blemishes. ,

R.utaba.gas-Same points as for turnips but much lal'ges in size. MarketdemfLJlllsa 1'00t of three to five pounds weight if quality is good.

Onions-Size three inches 01' more in diameter according to variety. Colort;'uc to val'iety. Australian brown should be brown and not yellow. Should besmooth and clean, not peeled so as to be "slick." Should be matme and solid.Pressure on the neck of the onion will expose any softness. Neck should besmall and well cured, Maturity is important. Immature ouions will not keep.

Peppers-Deep green color, fresh and fiI'm, straight, symmetrical as possible.In 11 elose competition advantages should be given to pel'fectly green specimens.'rmces ~f I'eel coloring not desiI'able, unless a class of red pepper is called fol'.

Cauliflower-Smooth, white (the whiter the better), 'close flowin'ed. "Ric­iug," OJ' opcning up ,of the head is an especially ball fault. Size of hsal1 also is

4 M.GNTANA EXTENSION SERVICE

streaksFrcsh,

of seed

winter squash osupon symmetry.

important. Six to eight inches in diameter is a good size.Cabba.ges-Drumhead, ballhead and early, pointed ,head types. Drumhcad

is the largest, and well grown specimens, should measur_e twelve to sixteen' inchesin diameter. Ballhead ten to twelve inches. Solidity is judged by pressureand by lifting. Red pickling and Savoy cabbages may be smaller, eight to teuinches in diameter being good sizes.

Celery-Heads clean, as well bleached as season permits,' free from rust,defects or damage, crisp and fresh. No hollow stalks; these may bo detectedby pressure of the stalk between finger and thumb.

Lettuce-Leaf varieties, freshness, el'ispness, blanching and freedom fromdefects are points considered. Hca9. varieties, solid and fresh; uniforlll size,shape and color; no indications of insect damage, decay or disease.

Cucumbers-Straight, dark green color except for some whitishat the blossom end. Length six to ten inches according to val'iety.firm, crisp. Diameter, average two inehes. In close competition sizeand seed cavity is examined. Suiall seed cavity is desirable.

Tomatoes-Plnce all specimcns blossom end up and examine for smooth­ness, even ripeness" and freedom from all speeks and blemishes. Turn stem cndsup and examine £01' cracks and greenness, Specimens should be firm ratllol;than soft. In size two and one-half to tln'ee and one-half inches diameter isstanclard.

KoIhl Rabi-Fl'eslland of good color. In good table condition, not hard,woody or pithy. Skin should be penetrated easily by thumb nail. Ct'isp; brittleand fine grained ,when cut. ' Size, same as for table turnip.

Squa.sh-Hubbard, ten to twenty' pounds. Hard. Scor'oon color, weight, harelDess aud fi-eedom from blemish andVegetable mal'l'OW and summer squashes, soft shell.

String Beans-Straight and smoo'th as possible. Free from rust' or spe:llcs.Five to eight inehe,8 in length according to variety. Brittle. }'or snal> bpfi It

purposes they should be meaty when snapped and should not contain In,I'!~~,

mature 'beans showing through the' pod. The smoother the pod ana the frel'rcJ.'from strings when snapped, the better.

Shell Bea,ns--ScOl'eel on size, color, variety and eondition" FI'cslmess an<lfl'eed?m from <lefects.' They should actually be dry and rcaely tor ,,,interstorage.

Peas in Pod-Smooth, denn, fre'e from defect' 01' disease and in prime con­<Ution for shelling and COOking, Good gl'een color pods. Whitish potls 01' hUl'llseeds und'esirable.

Dry Shelled Peas-Color, variety and cOI1{Ution. Frectlom from uefccts,blemishes, dil't or impurities.

R.hubarb Stalks-Good color (plenty of reel), fresh, brittle, stl'll-ignt, solielstalks, medium to largo size.

Note-Some of the Iill'ger fail-s, such as the State Fair, publish in theirpremium list the score cards their judges shall use. Where this is the cnse,exhibitors must select 'their samples to' confol'lll to such- score cards '1':l.th 01' thnnto tlw ones published in this circlilar.