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soon as the third crop has been cut from the house. When 

 there is a demand for lettuce in November it can be grown 

 in cold frames at a low cost, and if they are deep and well 

 covered on cold nights it can be carried until Thanksgiv- 

 ing. 



CONDITIONS FOK SUCCESS. 



The principal reason why the lettuce specialists have 

 such remarkable success is that every detail of handling 

 the crop is properl}^ attended to. 



As of first importance they consider the character of the 

 soil. This should be of a sandy nature with less than five 

 per cent, of clay. If the clay is present in much larger 

 quantities the surface of the soil, on becoming dry, will 

 bake and form clods and it Avill remain wet and cold after 

 watering, and it is likely to induce the appearance of the 

 rot. A good lettuce soil properly supplied with drainage 

 will allow the surplus water to pass through it and the roots 

 will penetrate to a much greater depth than in a cold, 

 heavier soil. (2) They not only have suitable varieties, 

 but the best growers take pains to have selected plants 

 from selected seed of those varieties. (3) Careful atten- 

 tion to regulating the temperature at night and to venti- 

 lation during the day. The burning of the edges of the 

 leaves which is so troublesome with head lettuce is un- 

 doubtedly due to some neglect in these particulars. 60 

 degrees answers well for a day temperature but even at 

 this, air should be given, and if it rises higher, the ventila- 

 tors should be opened wide. (4) Securing a steady growth 

 of the plants and guarding against a check. Aside from 

 the top dressing that is desirable after each crop is taken 

 off, the application of other ingredients will both increase 

 the size of the plants and hasten their maturity. (5) So 

 handle the houses that insects and fungous diseases can- 

 not gain a foothold. 



