FORCING OF VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS. 71 



gravelly loam is to be preferred, more especially for the head 

 lettuce which is the main lettuce grown for the New York market. 

 Years ago lettuce was grown on raised benches. It was thought 

 of much benefit to have the plants near the glass, but certainly a 

 mistaken idea for these cool-blooded vegetables. In the first 

 place, it is too hot for the roots, and second, the plants recpiire too 

 much water on the raised benches. Lettuce to be appreciated 

 must be grown quick and without a check, therefoi'e to produce 

 a quick healthy growth, a rich soil is necessary. Eight inches of 

 good soil is none too much. Say a week or so before planting a 

 good coat of well-rotted farmyard manure should be dug in, then 

 when ready for planting a light application of hard wood ashes 

 raked in will be all right. In the vicinity of New York the first 

 lot of seed is sown around the latter part of August. Then a sowing 

 every week or ten days for a succession. The aim should be to 

 keep a constant supply ready for use all through the winter months. 

 Therefore, a sowing of seed should be made every week or ten days, 

 from the end of August to the early part of February. The seed 

 may be sown at one end of the house or in flats. ^Mien large 

 enough to handle transplant again into flats or in the bed four 

 inches apart. In three or four weeks they will be ready to set in 

 their permanent quarters, planting in rows about eight inches apart 

 each way. One great advantage in solid beds is the crops don't 

 recpiire water very often. In fact, if the surface soil can be kept 

 on the dry side, providing there is plenty of moisture below, the 

 roots then will have a tendency to work down giving the plants 

 health and vigor, which is all important for best results; but a 

 thorough watering just as they begin to head will help to increase 

 the size and cjuicken maturity. 



Airing plays an important part in regard to success or failure 

 with this ever popular vegetable or salad. Give them all the air 

 possible. Too much coddling is a mistake, as the foliage will get 

 soft and then be in a condition to catch any disease that comes 

 along. I claim there is more disease brought on through careless 

 airing than any other one cause, in the 'growing of lettuce arti- 

 ficially. Nature will give us a good lesson to follow. "We find 

 when growing in the open garden lettuce makes ideal growth when 

 the temperature ranges around forty-five to fifty degrees at night, 



