100 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



countries is often carried off by ants, sometimes to such 

 an extent that it has to be sown in boxes whose supports 

 stand in water. 



Lettuce may be grown successfully under extremely 

 varying conditions of climate, but in general it needs a 

 rather cool temperature and humid atmosphere. It is 

 grown very extensively without protection throughout cen- 

 tral Florida and along the Gulf Coast, for midwinter and 

 early spring market. To do best, the temperature should 

 not fall below 28 F. or rise above 85 F. While the young 

 plants can endure a rather low temperature without being 

 killed, in the heading stage the crop is likely to be ruined 

 by a sudden fall of temperature to 24 F. Where such 

 freezes are likely to occur, frames that can be covered with 

 a light quality of cotton cloth are prepared. (See lower 

 figure, Plate V.) 



Seed-bed for lettuce. 



In preparing a coldframe or seed-bed for lettuce, one 

 should select coarse loam and mix with this much vegetable 

 matter, so as to put plenty of humus into the soil. The 

 drainage must be such that any surplus water will draw 

 off rapidly. 



The seed is sown in shallow drills about 3 inches apart, 

 and covered lightly with earth. The bed must be covered 

 so as to protect it from the sun or too rapid drying. It is 

 a good policy to sprinkle the bed every morning. From 

 time to time as the seedlings begin to crowd in the row, the 

 weaker ones should be pulled out. Transplanting is 

 done when the leaves are one to three inches long. If 

 delayed until the plants are larger, the work is accom- 



