1895.] ESSAYS. 25 



present time lettuce is a standaid vegetable all the year, and the large 

 amount of capital that is invested in sash and houses largely for the 

 growing of lettuce, you can see that it is a very important crop for the 

 gardener. It is important on another account, as it is a crop that he 

 can grow during the winter ; and that is quite desirable for those who 

 do not keep cattle, at any rate. 



It seems to be the general impression at the present time that 

 greenhouses are preferable to sash for the growing of lettuce during 

 the winter ; but as I have had no experience with them can not judge, 

 but would say that we have had no trouble in growing very satisfac- 

 tory lettuce under sash during the last three winters. It has always 

 seemed to me as though there was more trouble in raising good plants 

 than in growing the lettuce. 



In running sash during cold weather we find it desirable to put in 

 a few sash of heat at a time, and arrange so as to be able to put in a 

 few sash in a bed as often as possible, as we cannot hold much heat 

 during the short days in winter long enough to grow a good crop ; 

 but a few sash of fresh heat put in from time to time seems to help 

 quite a long run ; and while it is more trouble, you might say, perhaps, 

 that trouble is what we are looking for when we try to raise lettuce 

 during the winter ; because it is not how many sash can a man look 

 after, but how can he make a day's pay ; and I would rather spend a 

 day's time on two sash than four, providing we can get the same 

 returns. 



Our market is not a good one for winter lettuce ; but if the time 

 comes when we can raise good lettuce so that it can be sold for from 

 5 to 8 cents per head, during the winter, there is but little doubt 

 but what the demand will increase. While the price is very high at 

 present, there is no reason to expect another such a time for a 

 number of years, during which time there will probably be consider- 

 able lettuce raised at a loss. 



Fungus has begun to make its appearance in some places in such a 

 manner as to cause uneasiness, and if the gardeners were to have 

 their own way about it, we should know but little about its habits 

 until it got so destructive as to threaten the industry, as they, the 

 gardeners, are as a rule, non-believers in fungi ; hut I am thankful 

 to be able to say that there are students studying these small plants, 

 and "we may hope, at least, that they will discover some method of 

 holding them in check. 



Lettuce delights in a rich, mellow soil worked deep, and does not 

 need much water either in sash or outdoors when the weather is cool, 



