The Canadian Horticulturist. 299 



The soil in the pots is the same as that used on the bench, except that it is 

 sifted while that on the bench is not. A Httle drainage material is put in the 

 bottom of each pot. The plants are usually set on the benches about ten inches 

 apart each way. The roots soon fill the pot and grow out into the soil of the 

 bench through the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Being thus buried 

 in the soil, the little pots do not dry out as rapidly as they would do were they 

 exposed to the air. 



The soil in the pots is sufficient to support a vigorous growth, and yet when 

 the roots have filled the pots the plants appear to make a more compact growth 

 and head quicker than they do when grown in beds where the extension of the 

 root system is unchecked. 



Another advantage of this method consists in the fact that the plants are 

 transplanted but once, namely, from the flats to the pots, thus the check to the 

 growth by a second transplanting is avoided. 



Marketing-. 



The plants may be marketed without disturbing their roots, and for this 

 reason they keep fresh for a longer time than do the plants whose roots are dis- 

 turbed in preparing them for market. See Plate I. When the plant is ready for 

 market it may be knocked out of the pot, and the ball of earth containing the 

 roots undisturbed may be wrapped snugly in oiled paper. The earth will thus 

 keep moist for a long time, and furnish moisture to the plant through the roots 

 -which are imbedded in it. Local customers may be supplied with lettuce in the 

 pots and the pots returned after the plants are taken from them. 



Grocers and other retail dealers readily appreciate the advantages of having 

 letLuce grown in this way. It permits them to keep the lettuce on hand for a 

 considerable length of time, and still present it to their customers crisp, fresh 

 and attractive, instead of wilted and unattractive. 



The moment a pot is removed from the bench, another may immediately 

 be set in its place without waiting to clear the bench, or any portion of it, of the 

 rest of the lettuce. The method thus proves economical both of time and 

 space. 



This method will undoubtedly commend itself to growers who are forcing 

 lettuce to a limited extent. Whether it can be employed to advantage by those 

 who have extensive houses devoted to lettuce can be decided only by trial. It 

 certainly appears to be worthy of extended trial. 



Varieties. 



The variety of lettuce selected for forcing must, in general, be determined 

 by the market demand, and it should be the aim of the grower to furnish what 

 his market calls for, rather than what he may think he ought to have. 



