CHAPTER XII. 



Lettuce. 



vegetable can be grown in great perfection here in 

 ! the fall, and many seasons all through the winter and 

 spring. But it is almost useless to sow the seed before 

 the first of September for fall planting, as the green worms 

 are very troublesome on a crop set out earlier, and the plants 

 are almost sure to run to seed before heading. The seed for 

 earliest sowing should be mixed with a little earth and tied 

 up in a rag to sprout, after being well dampened. As soon 

 as signs of sprouting show, scatter soil and seed over the bed 

 and water in with a sprinkler, after which cover lightly with 

 fine soil and put down the mosquito-bar over the frame, 

 which should be made just as for cabbage. However, as the 

 ants often carry off lettuce seed very rapidly, it is well to 

 sow a few handfuls of fine grits, sifted bran or meal, as a bait, 

 over the bed, before putting on the bar. Be sure to make it 

 fit very close all around, for if there is the slightest open- 

 ing, the moths will find it and get in. Seed can be sown all 

 through the fall in the gulf coast country, but when planted 

 in December and January, it should be well protected in case 

 of a freeze. The most profitable crop is the one thus treated 

 and planted out the last of January for the upper country 

 markets, and even for points beyond Texas. The best pre- 

 ventive against the green worm in fall, I omitted to state, is 

 air-slaked lime, dusted occasionally over the plants after set- 

 ting in the field. This worm, however, disappears after 

 November. 



The old Royal Cabbage lettuce is about the best variety. 



(57) 



