THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 207 



humus and nitrogenous plant food. Most of the 

 varieties are improved by having the outer leaves 

 drawn together and tied loosely over the head, but 

 some varieties are said to be compact enough to 

 render this tying unnecessary. It is characteristic 

 of the cos varieties to become annual residents in 

 the gardens of those v^ho give them a trial. 



" Lettuce is easy to grow. For first early I would 

 make a bed in the fall and cover it with about one- 

 half inch of well-rotted manure. About February 

 I I sow the seed broadcast, not too thick, and draw 

 the back of the rake over it just to hide the seeds 

 from the birds. If sown in rows and covered with 

 soil the seed will not likely come up. One great 

 hindrance in getting good lettuce is sowing seed 

 too thickly. By transplanting some good plants, 

 about the first dry spell in April or laier, and about 

 5 or 6 inches each way, and cultivating, I get fine 

 lettuce. The best kind is a matter of choice. I 

 have had the best success with the Grand Rapids, 

 but it is not a head lettuce." 



" Last season, under rather unfavorable condi- 

 tions, I grew some of the finest lettuce I have ever 

 seen," writes John E. Vail of Decatur county, Iowa. 

 " This was secured by using rectangular troughs in 

 i6-foot lengths about 24 inches at the base and 18 

 inches high and wide at the top. They were cov- 

 ered with cheesecloth so arranged that it could be 

 quickly lifted from the rows. This method gave 

 most marked results over open air growth. It is 

 cheaply applied and will hasten the development 

 seven to 20 days." 



LETTUCE GROWING UNDER GLASS 



"A greenhouse and a system of cold frames in 

 some well-sheltered place will be found a profitable 



