COMMERCIAL LETTUCE GROWING 201 



the ordinary grower will undertake this work or not, let him have 

 lettuce anyway even if he will only scatter seed at frequent in- 

 tervals 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 vege- 

 tables, 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 salad all summer. Even if the grower 

 does have to face the vexation of plants going to seed in the ex- 

 treme heat, he should persist in his effort. 



COMMERCIAL LETTUCE GROWING. 



Details of commercial lettuce growing are faithfully set forth 

 by Prof. S. S. Rogers, of the University Farm, who has given par- 

 ticular attention to this subject for several years and has written a 

 special publication* from which we draw both text and illustrations. 



For the interior valleys of the state the planting season gen- 

 erally starts during the last of August and continues until the first 

 of March. Many growers make a first planting of the seed from 

 the middle to the last of August, a second in October, and a third 

 during January and February. Along the coast, where the climate 

 is more moderate, it is possible to grow lettuce successfully during 

 any month of the year. 



There are two methods for growing lettuce, both of which are 

 used extensively in California. The first is by planting the seed 

 directly in the field, sowing it in drills on the borders of the raised 

 beds; the second is to sow in seed-beds and transplant the young 

 plants into the field when they have attained the desired size. 



There are several forms of seed-beds in use, the most common 

 being the sunken beds, which vary from three to six feet in width 

 and eight to fifteen feet in length. The earth taken from the bed 

 is hoed up to form a levee around it to aid in irrigating. Before 

 planting, a heavy coating of well-rotted manure is spaded under 

 and the soil is heavily irrigated just before seeding. The seed may 

 either be broadcast or sown in drills, and covered one-half inch. 

 If the soil is liable to run together and bake when irrigated, a thin 

 coating of well-rotted, screened stable manure should be applied 

 on the surf ace 'before seeding. It will aid in germination if strips 

 of burlap are placed on the soil to remain until the young plants 

 are appearing at the surface. In removing this covering the young 

 plants should not be exposed too suddenly to the light. During the 

 warm months it is often necessary to irrigate several times before 



'Circular 160, University Experiment Station, "Lettuce Growing in California " by 

 Stanley S. Rogers. March 1917. 



