394 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



Standing, Dwarf German, Dwarf Curled Scotch and Fall Green Curled 

 Scotch. Sowing should be made about midsummer in order that the plants 

 may attain full size before cold weather. The plants are thinned to stand 

 eight to ten inches apart, according to variety. 



Kohl-Rabi. — This vegetable is also called "turnip-rooted cabbage." 

 It is easily grown in any rich soil. Plants may be started under glass, or the 

 seed may be sown direct in the open ground and the plants thinned to about 

 eight inches apart in the row. Green Vienna and Earliest Erfurt are the 

 leading varieties. It is possible to have fresh roots in the garden from the 

 middle of June until late fall, when they may be sto^d for winter use. 



Leek. — This vegetable requires the same cultural conditions as onions. 

 It is regarded as milder and more tender than the onion. The seed should 

 be sown in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Market 

 gardeners often transplant the seedlings in July, so that the crop will be 

 ready to use in the fall. It is always an advantage to clip the tops at 

 transplanting time. 



Lettuce. — Most farmers are perfectly familiar with the methods which 

 are ordinarily employed in growing lettuce. The usual practice is to sow 

 the seed broadcast in small beds. A very much better plan is to sow in 

 hotbeds or in a sunny window of the house and transplant the seedlings to 

 the open ground after it is dry enough to work. This method will insure 

 an earlier crop than is possible from sowing directly in the open ground. 

 If it is desired to make sowing out of doors, the seed should be drilled in 

 rows about a foot apart, and the plants thinned to stand from six to eight 

 inches apart in the row. This will result in much finer heads than is 

 possible by the broadcast method. There is a long list of varieties from 

 which to select. Grand Rapids is grown largely under glass and is also 

 suitable for culture out of doors. Wayahead is a comparatively new but 

 most excellent head variety for out-door culture. Big Boston is one of the 

 leading varieties for frame culture and for sandy and muck soils. All 

 Heart and Sensation are also good varieties. Hanson, Iceberg and Brittle 

 Ice are popular varieties of the " crisp-head" class. 



Sandy soils are selected when an early crop is desired, though this 

 vegetable may be grown with entire success on any soil properly fertilized. 

 *{ Rotten stable manure is undoubtedly the best form of fertilizer. It 

 may be used at the rate of twenty or more tons to the acre. Commercial 

 fertilizers are also used extensively for the lettuce crop. The early crop 

 may be started under glass as previously explained for cabbage. 



Muskmelon. — The remarks made concerning the cucumber apply 

 equally well to the muskmelon, although this vegetable requires better 

 cultural conditions than the cucumber. By starting the plants under 

 glass, practically every farmer could have a liberal supply of muskmelons. 

 It requires more heat and a longer season than the cucumber, but plants 

 which are well started by the time it is safe to plant them out of doors 

 should mature a satisfactory crop, especially if the soil is well enriched 



