SOILS FOR LETTUCE. 97 



two parts of drift sand and one part of greenhouse soil. 

 The sand was obtained from the valley of a stream near 

 by, which frequently overflowed its banks, flooding the 

 spot where the material was found. The greenhouse soil 

 was a mixture consisting of one part of the ordinary clay, 

 gneiss soil of the region, and two parts of well-rotted ma- 

 nure. Such soil will grow 20 bushels of wheat to the 

 acre without fertilization." 



Whilst all these remarks about the great importance 

 of the selection of a proper soil are certainly true, it 

 should nevertheless be said that a good gardener can get 

 good results from a very uncongenial soil, chiefly by giv- 

 ing skillful attention to watering. It is always essential to 

 the best lettuce growing, however, to avoid "heavy" 

 soils. These soils usually lose their water quickly, neces- 

 sitating frequent watering, which keeps the surface wet 

 and increases danger from damping-off and rot. These 

 soils soon become hard, compact and "dead," and the 

 plants grow slowly, with thick, tough leaves. 



Green (Bulletin 61, Ohio Exp. Sta. ) gives the following 

 advice upon soils for winter lettuce: "If the market de- 

 mands head lettuce, then it is of the utmost importance 

 that the soil should have a considerable per cent of sand, 

 and at the same time be sufficiently fertile and have 

 capacity for holding moisture. Non-heading sorts, like 

 the Grand Rapids, are not so particular as to soil, but it 

 is a difficult matter to grow any kind on a soil with 

 much clay in it, by surface-watering, and even if sub-irri- 

 gation is practiced such soil should be avoided. It would 

 be futile to attempt to grow lettuce according to methods 

 in vogue in the east on a heavy clay soil. Swamp muck, 

 composted with one-fourth or one-half horse manure, 

 answers very well for either surface or sub-irrigation, par- 

 ticularly for the latter. It has the advantage of being 

 light and easily handled, and never hardens ; moreover, 

 it has considerable capacity for water. The addition of 

 fine sand will greatly improve a clay soil, and it is advisa- 



