110 FARM-GAEDENISTG AND SEED-GEOWING. 



and always right after the ground is prepared, while the 

 surface is still moist. Plant them fifteen inches apart in the 

 row, pressing the earth firmly about the root, but avoid 

 very deep planting, as lettuce, to do well, must be entirely 

 above ground. It may be grown between the rows of 

 early cabbages, etc., and "will come off in time to allow 

 the ground to be cultivated and worked for the benefit of 

 the other crop. About twenty-eight thousand plants will 

 be required for an acre, at fifteen inches each way, or 

 nearly forty-four thousand at one foot each way, at which 

 distance the small varieties may be grown for market, 

 but for seed-growing they require room to branch out, 

 and the distance first named is preferable. Work with a 

 push-hoe both ways ; later, hoe thoroughly and deeply, re- 

 moving weeds from about the plants by hand. An addi- 

 tional push-hoeing will usually suffice to carry the crop 

 through clean, except in seed-growing, when it may be 

 necessary to go through with a narroio push-hoe, when 

 the plants are nearly in bloom. Hardy lettuce may be 

 sown thinly in rows fifteen inches apart about the middle 

 of September, and by lightly covering with coarse litter 

 or straw will survive the winter, and may be cut in spring 

 and sold by measure, or thinned and allowed to head. 

 The tender varieties may also be sown in the same man- 

 ner early in spring, and be marketed in the same way. 



Forcing^ To grow lettuce in winter, make a hot-bed 

 with five or six inches of soil, and when tempered, set 

 out the plants, about eight inches apart each way. 



This should be made in a very warm, sheltered position, 

 and great care is required to guard against sudden 

 changes. Air may be given very fine days, but as let- 

 tuce under glass is hardly expected to head, it may be 

 forced rapidly, and a well-made hot-bed will bear a second 

 crop. Gardeners about New York grow lettuce exten- 

 sively in cold-frames. In addition to the frame in which 

 the plants are preserved, they have spare frames which 



