248 FARMING BY INCHES; 



and doubtless will sell well. Shall we put that down for one 

 of our crops ? " 



" Yes ; and having decided to try lettuce we must read up 

 on the subject. Washburn says of it : 



" ' The lettuce is generally divided into two classes, namely, 

 cabbage lettuces and cos lettuces. The cabbage have round 

 heads and broad-spreading leaves ; the cos varieties have 

 long heads and upright, oblong leaves. 



" * Culture. A very rich soil is necessary to produce fine 

 head lettuce. Its crisp and tender quality depends very 

 much on a luxuriant and vigorous growth. The earliest 

 sowing may be made in February or March, under glass 

 with slight heat. Keep the plants thin, and admit plenty 

 of air to the frame every fine day. For later supplies, sow 

 in the open ground as soon as the season will permit ; trans- 

 plant, or thin out the plants gradually to a foot apart, and 

 keep well cultivated. The cos lettuces are excellent, if 

 grown early in the spring, but run to seed quickly in hot 

 weather. The large cabbage kinds are best, and most suit- 

 able for summer crops. 



" t Early-curled Silesia. Standard sort ; very early ; the 

 best for forcing and the first spring sowing ; makes a loose 

 head ; tender, and of excellent flavor. 



" * Early Tennisball. One of the oldest and most esteemed 

 of the cabbage lettuce. The *l^id is below medium size ; 



