166 MUCK CROPS 



150 to 200 pounds an acre according to the 

 indications in the change of the color of the 

 leaves. Sometimes supplementary applica- 

 tions are not necessary. When nitrate of 

 soda is considered unsafe in the growers' 

 hands, it is advisable for them to use fish 

 tankage, about 300 pounds an acre. 



Planting. Lettuce is planted from May i 

 to 15, in order to obtain a crop the first of 

 July. It requires from 9 to u weeks, some- 

 times a little more, to mature a crop of let- 

 tuce, and the grower must plan to have a 

 crop on time. The seed is generally sown 

 with a one-row seed drill, the rows being 12 

 inches apart and the seed about a half to 

 three-quarters of an inch below the ground. 

 In some cases, by experienced men, the seed 

 is soaked before sowing. A quantity of seed 

 is placed in a bag and allowed to remain in 

 lukewarm water over night or a little longer. 



It is then removed from the bag and mixed 

 thoroughly with very dry, finely screened 

 muck. This very dry muck easily absorbs 

 the water from the seed, and by shaking the 

 seed and muck over a very fine sieve, the 

 muck passes through the mesh, while the 

 seed is retained in practically a dry con- 

 dition. In that way 10 or 15 minutes after 



