170 MUCK CROPS 



inches or a little more. This thinning also 

 aids in working the soil in the row. 



Insects. Practically the only insect that 

 troubles lettuce is the louse. In some of the 

 very dry seasons, the lice predominate and 

 the lettuce is found to go "under." There is 

 no practical remedy for this pest. When it 

 becomes quite common, it is probably best to 

 plow the crop under. However, if the 

 grower wishes to try to save it, commercial 

 nicotine sulphate, diluted as per directions 

 on the package and applied thoroughly to 

 the plant, care being taken to hit the insects 

 with the spray, will have a tendency to kill 

 a large number of the pests. 



Diseases. There are several diseases 

 which trouble lettuce. The damping-off 

 disease is one of the most common. It comes 

 where there is poor sanitary condition of the 

 land, where there is poor drainage and where 

 the plants are allowed to grow too thickly. 

 By correcting these conditions, the damp- 

 ing-off may be remedied somewhat. 



Lettuce-drop is another trouble which 

 sometimes comes to this plant. It is gener- 

 ally accompanied by rot, the same as the 

 damping-off. Starting at the stem and 

 working on the underside of the leaf, this rot 



