LETTUCE 



135 



call for experience and special conditions, to insure 

 even partial success. 



Three types of this plant show marked differences 

 in habit and appearance : 



Head Lettuce. — Head lettuce, like the Simp- 

 son, Tennisball, and Big Boston, must be carefully 

 handled. The young plant must be grown in rich, 

 Hght seed beds, with plenty of root space. It must 

 then be transplanted 

 under equally good 

 conditions, in order 

 to secure satisfactory 

 heads. The amateur 

 is frequently disap- 

 pointed with lettuce 

 of this type, as it 

 has a tendency to 

 grow rank and 

 stringy, if anything 

 interferes with per- 

 fect growth. It has a plain leaf, which is not desir- 

 able for food until the heads are formed. 



Loose-Leaf Lettuce. — Loose-leaf lettuce, so 

 called, is pretty sure to yield enough edible leaves 

 to repay the efforts of the youngest beginner. The 

 seed may be sown in drills, and the leaves eaten as 

 soon as they are big enough ; or it may be started 

 in the seed bed and transplanted. The leaves of 

 most plants of this variety are of good quality as 



Big Boston Lettuce 



