274 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



It is not necessary, perhaps, to sow lettuce so often if 

 seed beds are prepared so that they will readily drain, 

 away winter water and have slight protection from cold 

 winds in the winter and burning sun in summer. From 

 these beds plants can be taken at different times as land 

 is available for planting out, just as cabbages are trans- 

 planted, and even though the plants have attained con- 

 siderable size in the seed-bed, the long roots can be shork 

 ened a little and they can still be transplanted to good 

 moist soil, and will go on with the heading all the better 

 for the freer space. It may be quicker to get lettuce with 

 the loose-leaved plants, but the heads are more delicious, 

 and all should learn to keep the plants in good thrift un- 

 til they become full and solid with their crisp and delici- 

 ous contents. Seed-beds should not have much heating 

 material in this climate. It is better for the plants to grow 

 slowly at first, and after the rains a raised bed with enough 

 fibrous material and well-spent manure will furnish a long 

 succession for transplanting. But whether the ordinary 

 grower will undertake this work or not, let him have let- 

 tuce anyway even if he will only scatter seed at frequent 

 intervals on moist ground and then give the plants good 

 hoeing. To get crisp, tender lettuce the plants must be 

 pushed along with rich soil and good cultivation whatever 

 method of growing is pursued. 



In -the hot parts of the State, where the summer tries 

 the plants, lettuce should be planted on the shady side of 

 tall growing vegetables, and then, with moisture enough, 

 they will do well. Lath screens or other devices are, of 

 course, serviceable if one prefers them. But do not be 

 content with a little lettuce in the spring and go without 

 the rest of the year. It only requires a little ingenuity 

 and energy and water to have crisp, cooling salad all sum- 

 mer, when it is most delicious and wholesome. 



Varieties. There is almost illimitable variety in lettuce, 

 and inextricable confusion in the nomenclature resulting 

 from re-naming by seedsmen and others. As with other 

 plants, however, a few varieties constitute the bulk of the 



