LETTUCE UNDER GLASS. 109 



would produce better results. As I was saying, it requires 

 no particular amount of skill to grow plants under glass. A 

 good many persons are deterred from having green-houses 

 because they think they must have a gardener. "Well, I do 

 not blame them. I do not want a gardener around me. As 

 Mr. Strong has said, have your plants pretty near the glass, 

 give them plenty of light and air, and enough water, and you 

 can grow good crops. That is about all there is to it. Give 

 them plenty of air during the day, not at night. 



Mr. Strong. "Will you allow me one word in answer to 

 Mr. Moore? Mr. Moore says that lettuce has not been 

 grown in these low houses. I agree with him that it has not 

 been generally grown, but that is no proof that it cannot be 

 grown; and, indeed, Mr. Moore has disposed of his assertion 

 himself. He says he is building a house where he believes 

 lettuce can be grown. I am happy to be able to say that this 

 is not mere theory. Lettuce has been grown in these glass 

 houses, heated by hot water, and grown as well as in frames. 

 It is true that some of the experiments have been failures, but 

 it was because the gentlemen trying them have not been well 

 acquainted with the management of hot-water pipes, and they 

 have over-heated, and have not given sufficient air. I have 

 no doubt that Mr. Moore will succeed in growing lettuce to 

 perfection in those low structures. 



Mr. Hyde. A single word, that may throw some light 

 upon the difficulty suggested by Mr. Moore. I have been for 

 years surrounded by lettuce-growers — a great deal is raised 

 in Newton — and the finest lettuce I ever saw was grown under 

 a frame in a hot-bed. The seed was sown early in November, 

 but the lettuce was not taken out of that frame until the first 

 or second week in April. Now, mark : Mr. Stone had been 

 all those months growing that lettuce ; it was magnificent 

 lettuce, truly ; I never saw handsomer. But, my friend, Mr. 

 Morse, has grown two crops while Mr. Stone has been grow- 

 ing one crop. Now, we cannot afford to grow it thus slowly, 

 for profit. Although Mr. Morse's lettuce is sometimes not 

 quite so large and handsome as Mr. Stone's, still it is large 

 enough to go to the New York market. Mr. Morse takes his 

 out early in January and February, while Mr. Stone does not 

 get his crop out until the middle of April, by which time Mr. 



