LETTUCE 211 



77.50 per cent fine sand, 2.44 per cent very fine sand, 1.60 

 per cent silt, 1.23 per cent fine silt and 3.79 per cent clay. 

 It will be noted that the soil which is called a clay loam 

 contained over 70 per cent of sand of all sizes, and that 

 the Geneva sandy loam contained over 90 per cent, which 

 was a decidedly sandy soil. In discussing the results with 

 head lettuce grown on these soils, Beach states : 



"A comparison of the records of the four crops might at first 

 give the impression that the different crops do not agree very closely 

 as to their results, but a more careful study will show that in reality 

 they conflict with each other very little, if at all. With the first 

 crop there was no marked difference in the weight of the lettuce on 

 the different soils. With the second crop the sand and manure gave 

 decidedly heavier plants than did the soils which contained clay 

 loam, but the latter really gave superior lettuce, for the plants on 

 sand formed rather loose heads, actually less valuable for market 

 than the more compact though somewhat smaller lettuce which was 

 grown on the clay loam soils. With the third crop the results were 

 quite similar to those which were found with the second crop. With 

 the fourth crop the evidence was stronger than before in favor of 

 the medium, heavy clay loam lightened with fairly well-rotted stable 

 manure, as the best of the soil mixtures which were tried for forc- 

 ing lettuce. The lettuce which it produced was not only superior to 

 that which was grown on the sandy soil, in texture of leaf, firmness 

 of head and general appearance, but it was also heavier." 



Fertilizing. Lettuce requires high fertility. Rapidity 

 of growth and quality of the product are largely de- 

 pendent upon an abundance of available plant food. There 

 should be no doubt in the mind of the grower as to 

 whether the soil is as fertile as necessary to produce a 

 maximum crop of the best quality. 



All are agreed that stable manure should constitute the 

 chief fertilizing material for lettuce, because it not only 

 supplies plant food, but creates favorable physical condi- 

 tions in the soil. It is believed by many growers that if 

 sufficient stable manure is used to maintain proper 

 physical conditions in the soil, the food requirements of 

 the plants will be fully met and there will be no necessity 



