PREPARATION AND CARE OF THE BEDS. 189 



loss in marketing, as, whether in the pots or not, the balls 

 of earth (Fig. 71) will prevent the wilting of the leaves, 

 and with proper care the heads can be kept over a week. 

 Our experience in lettuce growing in pots does not 

 warrant our recommending it for general use, although 

 the above claims have for the most part been substanti- 

 ated. We find, however, that the check from trans- 

 planting is more than counterbalanced by the reduced 

 size of the plants grown in pots, while by the use of the 



FIG. 71. POT PLANT READY FOR MARKET. TENN. EXP. STATION. 



system of transplanting recommended above there is lit- 

 tle if any saving in room, while the labor of transplant- 

 ing is less than will be required in handling the pots and 

 in plunging. There will undoubtedly be less loss when 

 the plants are marketed with balls of earth attached, 

 and this may make it a desirable method of growing let- 

 tuce for supplying small dealers. 



PREPARATION AND CARE OF THE BEDS. 



When shallow beds are used, the soil will all need 

 to be replaced each year, but in solid beds it will suffice 



