LETTUCE. 333 



can purchase the plants cheaper than he can raise them. The nature 

 of this vegetable is very much similar to that of the tomato, being a 

 very tender plant, and should never be set out, in the latitude of 

 New York, sooner than the 15th of May. It should be planted at 

 distances of four feet apart each way. It will begin to produce its 

 fruits by the middle of July and continues fruiting until September. 

 It is not unusual for single plants to produce ten or twelve large 

 fruits, enough to fill a bushel basket. They are usually retailed in. 

 our markets at $1.50 per dozen fruits. 



LETTUCE. 



This is, perhaps, one of the most universally cultivated of all vege- 

 tables, and from its tractable nature and freedom from nearly all 

 insect diseases, it is easily managed by every one. For main crop the 

 seed is usually sown by market gardeners in the open ground, about 

 the middle of September, and transplanted to cold frames as soon as 



BLACK SEEDED SIMPSON LETTUCE. 



large enough to handle, being wintered over in the same manner as 

 early cabbage, which see. But when sown in dry, well sheltered 

 spots and covered with leaves or litter late in the fall, lettuce plants 

 will be safe through the winter without glass covering, particularly in 

 southern sections. We have often seen plants in sheltered places, 

 even in New Jersey, coming out in the spring perfectly fresh, simply 

 by having sown the seed in the open ground in the middle of Sep- 

 tember. These plants that are sown in September, it will be under- 

 stood, are for the early spring crop, to be planted in April in the open 

 ground. For such as are wanted for successive crops sowings may be 



