100 COOL SEASON CROPS 



ever, even these precautions will not make it possible to produce 

 good lettuce in midsummer in a hot climate, for lettuce is essen- 

 tially a cool weather plant. In hot, dry weather it becomes tough, 

 bitter and undesirable. 



Under favorable conditions of temperature and moisture 

 lettuce grows rapidly and will usually be ready for the table in 

 six to eight weeks after the planting of the seed. This makes it 

 an attractive crop for the amateur gardener. 



Garden cress, known also as " pepper grass '' because of its 

 pungent flavor, is another crop of easy culture and exceedingly 

 rapid growth. It may be used for flavoring salads, for garnishing 

 or for making sandwiches. The seed should be sown in the open 

 ground very early in spring. It germinates quickly at a low 

 temperature, and the plants grow rapidly if the weather is cool 



Fig. 54. — Corn salad. 



and the soil moist. Later plantings run quickly to seed without 

 making much foliage if the weather turns warm. Its chief func- 

 tion in the home garden is to furnish garnishing material early in 

 the season before parsley is available. For this purpose the cut- 

 leafed and curled forms are most desirable. 



The plants are small, so that the rows may be as close together 

 as eight to twelve inches. The plants are usually not thinned, 

 except as pulled or cut for use. Usually the entire plant is taken. 



No special treatments are necessary in the growing of garden 

 cress, the only precautions being to plant early, maintain moisture, 

 and gather promptly. It is a short-lived crop and does not remain 

 in edible condition very long. In six weeks from planting it 

 should be ready for use. 



Corn salad (Fig. 54) is not extensively grown in America. Its 

 cultural requirements are much the same as those of garden cress. 



