I40 GARDEN STEPS 



handle, into the earth. Into this, scatter the seed, 

 thirty or forty to the foot. Sift over the seed just 

 enough fine soil to cover it completely, and make 

 it firm with the rake or shovel. Then add a light 

 sprinkling for the dust mulch. 



Thinning Out. — When the young plants are 

 about three inches high, they are ready to use. 

 Take a strong table knife, and drive it under the roots 

 in the row where the plants stand thickest. Lift 

 out the little plants, roots and all, shaking the earth 

 from the roots back into the row. This leaves an 

 open space of freshly turned up earth, about an inch 

 wide, for the other plants to spread in. By doing 

 this here and there, where the plants are thickest, 

 they are kept from crowding as they grow, and 'at 

 the same time the earth is kept soft. If you try to 

 pull out these extra plants with the fingers, you will 

 leave more than half the roots in the ground, to 

 choke the growth of the other plants. Gradually 

 widen the spaces between the plants until they stand 

 five or six inches apart. Then these last plants, if 

 a heading variety like Hanson has been used, will 

 form good heads to complete the crop. 



Lettuce for Succession. — To keep the supply of 

 lettuce constant, additional plantings should be 

 made. It will be found, however, that about three 

 lots will satisfy the family, unless the fondness for 

 this plant is unusual. No ordinary care will produce 

 good lettuce during the hot days of midsummer. 



