108 MARKET GAKDENING. 



thoroughly decomposed, a rich black mold, an excellent 

 fertilizer. Some gardeners make use of a light applica- 

 tion of superphosphate of lime and of nitrogenous fer- 

 tilizer, as dried meat and blood, before planting the 

 beds. But the main reliance is best placed upon the 

 compost heap. Those who water with enriched water 

 find one ounce of sulphate of ammonia to five gallons of 

 water to be an excellent application for lettuce, while 

 for radishes, two ounces of dried blood to five gallons of 

 water produce the best results. Before planting, the 

 soil on the beds should be worked over and pulverized, 

 the surface made smooth and level. Lettuce is gener- 

 ally the first crop, and set with a dibble at seven to 

 eight inches apart each way. This part of the operation 

 requires no great skill, outside of getting the lines 

 straight and setting the plants at proper depth and at 

 proper distances apart, the lines being parallel to each 

 other in both directions. This is essential, so that at 

 times when the surface crusts, it can be loosened each 

 way by the use of small scuffle hoes. This operation 

 may be found necessary two or three times during the 

 growth of the plants. 



Practical gardeners know that none of the curled- 

 leaved varieties of lettuce will stand forcing under glass. 

 This is so well understood that those having any experi- 

 ence never plant any of the curled sorts in a vegetable 

 forcing house. The varieties which will succeed best 

 for these purposes are Forcing, Tennis Ball, Silver Ball, 

 Bloomsdale Eeliable, Boston Market and Big Boston. 

 The first two kinds are compact in growth, while all 

 make good heads under glass, and they are, without 

 doubt, the most profitable sorts to grow. The experi- 

 enced gardener purchases his seeds only from seed 

 merchants of established reputation. 



To secure plants for the first crop the seed should 

 be sown in a sheltered space in the garden, say six weeks 



