8o8 Report op the Horticultural Department of the 



grown in each box, one near each corner. Holes for the seeds 

 were made one-half inch deep by means of a marker designed for 

 this express purpose. About a dozen large plump seeds were 

 planted in each hole, and covered evenly with fine earth. After 

 germination all but the most vigorous plants were discarded. 

 By this method good plants were selected. These were not 

 transplanted but grew where the seeds were planted, undis- 

 turbed till they were harvested. Although transplanting is not 

 necessarily injurious to lettuce nevertheless there is always a 

 risk that some of the plants may not pass through the operation 

 as successfully as others. Where the plants are under experi- 

 ment, therefore, transplanting should be avoided; because it is 

 liable to introduce disturbing factors. 



In case a plant under experiment was accidently injured or 

 died prematurely its place was immediately filled with another 

 plant of the same kind and age, grown for the pur^jose of meet- 

 ing such an emergency, so that the number of x>l5ints in each 

 box might be kept uniform dm-ing the entire period of growth 

 and the portion of soil avaihude to each plant under experiment 

 might be kept as uniform as possible. 



watering. 



Hydrant water from the city supply was applied to the surface 

 whenever the plants needed it. No attempt was made to meas- 

 ure the quantity used. The small percentage of plant-food sup- 

 plied in the water may be disregarded in such experiments as 

 those under consideration. After the heads began to form, the 

 water was applied around the plants and wetting the heads was 

 avoided as much as possible. Where water is applied to the 

 heads the leaves are apt to hold more of it than readily evapo- 

 rates and thus conditions favorable to the development of rot 

 are obtained. 



Up to the time when the leaves covered the soil, cultivation 

 followed watering as soon as the ground was fit. This kupt 

 down weeds and conserved soil moisture. 



