188 



QUERIES AND ANSWERS, 



Germmation 

 of Lettuce. 



flourishes in the Southern States, and by some is used in Summer drinks 

 as a substitute for spearmint, which is the proper article for such purposes. 



1023. Q. Wliy is it that July and August sowings of lettuce seed so 

 frequently fail to germinate. I live in Florida, and Midsummer sowings 

 of lettuce are the most profitable. I attributed the failure to getting old 

 seed, but I have had the same seed to give good results sown at a later 

 period ? 



A. This is clearly attributable to unfavorable conditions. You may 

 have put it into soil too dry to afford the necessary moisture to swell the 

 seed, or if swollen, the germ may have been parched by earth burning 

 hot, or you may have covered the seed too deeply, some lettuce seed 

 should never be covered, but just tramped or patted down. The follow- 

 ing is an exact copy of a letter received from a seed merchant to whom 

 the firm of the writer sold some lettuce seed. 



"I regret exceedingly that I was misled by Truckers in regard to 

 the germination of your Royal Cabbage lettuce seeds, and I now find 

 that they were impatient, unreasonable and their reports entirely un- 

 true, as I sowed j^our seeds in a box, on the 2d of this month, and 

 I find them up well this morning, and besides, one of the men who 

 had this seed told me, not ten minutes ago, that his was up too thick and 

 that others in his section told him yesterday that it was now coming up 

 nicely, and I now write to apologize to your firm, as I feel very sorry 

 for what I said two or three days ago, believing as I then did, from the 

 reports of so many, that the seeds were worthless." 



1024. Q. Furnish me with a list of two or three sorts of each leading 

 table vegetable suitable for a family garden in the vicinity of Baltimore. 



Peas. — Extra Early, American Wonder, Bloomsdale, Phonograph. 



Beans. — Red Valentine, Landreths' Scarlet, Pink Eye Wax, Pole 

 Lima. 



Corn. — Crosby, Landreths' Sugar, Evergreen. 



Cabbage. — Early Jersey Wakefield, Reedland Early Drumhead, Blooms- 

 dale Large Late Flat Dutch. 



Carrot. — Pointed Horn, Ox Heart. 



Celery. — Paris Golden, White Plume. 



Cucumber. — First, Landreths' Choice, White Spine. 



Egg Plant — Thornless. 



Kale. — Bloomsdale Extra Curled. 



Lettuce. — Forcing, Virginia Solid Header, Bloomsdale Reliable. 



Watermelon. — Boss, Arkansas Traveler, Long Light Icing. 



Cantaloupe. — Jennie Lind, Anne Arundel, Missouri. 



Onion. — Bloomsdale Pearl, Bermuda Red, Hard Round Golden. 



Okra. — Long Green Pod. 



Parsnip. — Bloomsdale. 



^a(Zi87t.— Landreths' Earliest, White Lady Finger, Wonderful Half 

 Long Red. 



Spinach. — Bloomsdale, Ever Ready. 



