LETTUCE 
W. L. Bonnzy, Baravia, N. Y. 
MAGNITUDE OF THE INDUSTRY 
It is within comparatively recent years 
that the growing of lettuce commercially 
—that is, in car lots—has become a 
business proposition among the market 
gardeners of the state. 
There is probably no other vegetable 
the production of which has increased so 
rapidly as that of lettuce. There are two 
reasons for the wonderful growth of this 
industry. One is a growing demand for 
this healthful and delicious vegetable, and 
the other, the rapidly increasing development of the muck lands 
of our country, in which soil lettuce seems to reach perfection. 
The acreage planted to lettuce in this state is very large and is 
increasing each year. It now takes in South Lima, Livingston 
county; Arkport, Steuben county; Sanborn and Middleport, 
Niagara county; Williamson, Wayne county; Fancher and Holley, 
Orleans county; Fulton, Oswego county; and the muck lands near 
Syracuse, Onondaga county; Canastota, Madison county, and 
Chester, Orange county. In fact in every section where muck 
lands are being developed a large portion goes into lettuce. 
VARIETY AND SEED SOWING 
There are a great many varieties of lettuce, but we feel safe in 
saying that 90 per cent. of all outdoor lettuce (of which this arti- 
cle is treating), is the Big Boston. 
The seed of this variety may be sown as early in the spring 
as the ground can be fitted for the purpose. The ground should 
be prepared as follows: after plowing the land in the spring, 
sow broadcast a high-grade fertilizer and work well into the 
soil. Sow the seed with a garden seeder in rows fourteen inches 
[1520] 
