10 The Bulletin. 



the bed with canvas or sash to retain moisture. Only the best seed 

 should be sown, no matter what its cost. It pays to test the seed. If 

 the weather be very dry, the beds may need an occasional sprinkling. 



SETTING THE PLANTS. 



Plants are ready to transplant from the seed-bed at from four to 

 six weeks after seed-sowing. At that time the little plants will be 

 about three inches high and will be getting the fourth leaf. Very 

 small plants are difficult to handle in setting. The larger plants are 

 taken from the beds first, and the smaller ones then get more room 

 and come on for later plantings. For large head-lettuce the plants 

 are set about 10 by 10 inches or 10 by 12 inches. Many home-made 

 devices are used for conveniently marking off the beds. In our 

 experimental plantings we use a light marking strip, which in length 

 corresponds with the width of the bed. At each end of this a strip 

 10 inches long is tacked at right-angles to it. This spaces the new 

 row from the last one set. jSTotches are cut on the marking strip 10 

 inches apart. The planters kneel on a board and set a plant in every 

 notch of the marking strip. As the setting proceeds, the board and 

 marker are moved backward. The board firms the soil and is a guard 

 against the plants being set too deeply. After the beds are set they 

 should be shaded with the covers for two or three days. 



GENERAL CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT. 



Since the soil for lettuce is given such thorough preparation and 

 fertilization, and since in heated and irrigated frames growing con- 

 ditions are almost entirely under control, very little cultivation of 

 lettuce beds is necessary. Cultivation is usually to render plant food 

 available and to retain moisture or kill weeds. The previous prepa- 

 ration, together with necessary irrigation, pretty nearly satisfy these 

 needs. However, till the leaves begin to spread out over the ground, 

 an occasional raking may be given with a narrow home-made rake 

 that can go between the plants without disturbing the leaves. About 

 three or four weeks after the plants are set, when they have gotten 

 hold of the soil and are starting into active growth, the second appli- 

 cation of commercial fertilizer should be given. A light raking 

 should be given at that time to incorporate the fertilizer with the 

 soil. After the leaves cover the ground all cultivation should cease. 

 Unless the weather is cold or threatening, the covers should be re- 

 moved during the day and the beds given all available sunshine. It 

 is not necessary to cover the beds at night unless the temperature is 

 low and frost imminent. If the covers are kept too close it keeps 

 the air moist and encourages disease. 



