300 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Summary. 



The growing of lettuce in pots is believed to have several advantages over 

 growing it in benches, namely : 



1. By inducing a compact growth and favoring early heading. 



2. The plants are transplanted but once, that is from the fiats to the pots,, 

 so that the growth is not checked by a second transplanting. 



3. Plants may be marketed without disturbing their roots, and so may be 

 kept perfectly fresh for a long time, an advantage that is much appreciated by 

 retail dealers. 



4. As soon as a plant is removed from the bench its place may be imme- 

 diately filled with another potted plant, so that the entire bench room may be 

 kept constantly occupied. 



The method may be briefly outlined as follows : 



The bench, six inches deep, is half filled with well-rotted manure, over 

 which is spread three inches of soil. 



The soil is made of one part by measure of manure to three parts of rotted 

 sod. Should the sod be from a heavy loam it is made lighter by adding one 

 part by measure of sand to three parts of sod. 



As to the care of lettuce under glass it may be said that : 



The house should be kept at a cool even temperature, running a few degrees 

 above fifty in the day, and remaining at fifty or a little below at night. 



Sudden fluctuations from high to low temperature or vice versa should be 

 avoided. 



The plants should have plenty of fresh air, especially on sunny days when 

 the temperature is high outside. 



When the plants are watered overhead it is best to select a time when the 

 foliage will dry quickly. Avoid watering so late in the day that the plants will 

 not dry before night. 



The following varieties have forced well at this Station : 



Cabbage lettuce : — Big Boston, large ; Salamander ; Drumhead ; Hender- 

 son's New York, curled ; Golden Ball, dwarf ; Golden Queen, dwarf. 



Varieties forming loose heads : — Grand Rapids, curled ; Hanson, curled • 

 New Iceberg, curled ; Prize Head, curled, tinged with reddish brown. 



I suppose that everyone feels that the greatest charm of any landscape in 

 the north is the greensward. It is the canvas upon which every artist-painter 

 attempts to make a picture. But imagine a painter putting a glowing bed of 

 coleuses on his canvas, for a centre-piece ! The fact is, the easiest way to spoil 

 a good lawn is to put a flower-bed in it ; and the most effective way in which to 

 show off flowers to the least advantage is to plant them in a bed in the green- 

 sward. Lawns should be large, free and generous, but the more they are cut 

 up and worried with trivial effects the smaller and meaner they look. — Bailey. 



