6 The Bulletin. 



METHODS OF CULTURE. 



According to location and climatic conditions, lettuce-growing in 

 North Carolina is carried on under three different methods: (1) 

 Steam-heated and irrigated frames; (2) Covered frames without 

 heating; (3) Open field culture. 



Lettuce-growing by heating and irrigation is, as regards the grow- 

 ing, a safe and sure business. It is also the most costly method to 

 install. There is, however, no danger from a sudden drop in tem- 

 perature, and the crop never need suffer from drought. This method 

 puts on the market the early lettuce that nearly always brings the 

 highest price. The history of steam lettuce-growing in North Caro- 

 lina has shown that it is a very profitable business. 



In warm southern locations, where cold snaps are only occasional, 

 lettuce can be readily grown under protecting cotton covers, with no 

 heat except that of the sun's rays. Lettuce is a cool-growing plant 

 that will, when partially grown, bear even being frozen solid. In its 

 succulent condition at heading time, however, it is very tender and 

 is killed by freezing. This last winter (1906-'07) lettuce under ex- 

 periment, growing in frames and without heat, was frozen solid 

 three different times and showed no bad effects. Freezing at heading 

 time, however, is always fatal. In this climate, where lettuce is 

 grown under frames, there is very little danger of freezing at head- 

 ing time. At times of freezing the frames are kept covered and the 

 frost draws out so gi'adually that no bad effect is apparent. When 

 lettuce is frozen great care should be taken to see that the covers are 

 tightly stretched and do not touch or flap against the frozen plants. 

 Whenever a plant is touched while frozen, it is ruined for market. 

 Open field culture of lettuce is possible only in warm southern loca- 

 tions, where freezing is uncommon. It is, of course, more risky than 

 the foregoing methods, but as the cost is trifling in comparison, one 

 can afford to take some risk. This spring, owing to very favorable 

 market conditions at Ihe last of the lettuce season, field-grown lettuce 

 brought the highest prices paid during the year, and the growers of 

 field lettuce made phenomenal profits. A combination of the fore- 

 going methods would lengthen out the lettuce shipping season and 

 would be well worthy of trial by lettuce-growers. In addition to 

 frame culture, it usually pays the southern grower to increase his. 

 acreage by the addition of some of the field-gro%\ai crop. 



LETTUCE SOILS. 



The quality of the lettuce crop is greatly influenced by the kind of 

 soil upon which it is grown, and, while some soils are inferior for the 

 work, their character may be changed to such a degree, by careful 

 management, as to give satisfactory results. 



