REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



A COMPARISON OF SOIL MIXTURES 

 FOR FORCING HEAD LETTUCE.* 



S. A. Beach. 



SUMMARY. 



Tests of different soil mixtures for forcing head lettuce have 

 been continued for three winters. A medium clay loam with 

 various proportions of stable manure and sand, pure sand with 

 manure, and a very light sandy loam with manure have been tried. 



The clay loam with a heavy application of stable manure gave 

 the best results. 



The light sandy loam with heavy application of stable manure 

 was least satisfactory. 



On pure sand with a good dressing of stable manure the lettuce 

 made a vigorous growth, but the heads were less firm and the 

 texture more delicate than with the lettuce which was grown on the 

 clay loam. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Some investigations were begun at this Station in the autumn 

 of 1895 for the purpose of observing the influence of different 

 soil mixtures on the earliness, texture, shape and size of lettuce 

 grown under glass. The tests have been continued for three 

 winters and four crops have been grown. 



* Reprint from Bulletin No. 146. 



