LETTUCE 211 
77.50 per cent fine sand, 2.44 per cent very fine sand, 1.60 
per cent silt, 1.23 per cent fine silt and 3.79 per cent clay. 
It will be noted that the soil which is called a clay loam 
contained over 70 per cent of sand of all sizes, and that 
the Geneva sandy loam contained over 90 per cent, which 
was a decidedly sandy soil. In discussing the results with 
head lettuce grown on these soils, Beach states: 
“A comparison of the records of the four crops might at first 
give the impression that the different crops do not agree very closely 
as to their results, but a more careful study will show that in reality 
they conflict with each other very little, if at all. With the first 
crop there was no marked difference in the weight of the lettuce on 
the different soils. With the second crop the sand and manure gave 
decidedly heavier plants than did the soils which contained clay 
loam, but the latter really gave superior lettuce, for the plants on 
sand formed rather loose heads, actually less valuable for market 
than the more compact though somewhat smaller lettuce which was 
grown on the clay loam soils. With the third crop the results were 
quite similar to those which were found with the second crop. With 
the fourth crop the evidence was stronger than before in favor of 
the medium, heavy clay loam lightened with fairly well-rotted stable 
manure, as the best of the soil mixtures which were tried for forc- 
ing lettuce. The lettuce which it produced was not only superior to 
that which was grown on the sandy soil, in texture of leaf, firmness 
of head and general appearance, but it was also heavier.” 
Fertilizing —Lettuce requires high fertility. Rapidity 
of growth and quality of the product are largely de- 
pendent upon an abundance of available plant food. There 
should be no doubt in the mind of the grower as to 
whether the soil is as fertile as necessary to produce a 
maximum crop of the best quality. 
All are agreed that stable manure should constitute the 
chief fertilizing material for lettuce, because it not only 
supplies plant food, but creates favorable physical condi- 
tions in the soil. It is believed by many growers that if 
sufficient stable manure is used to maintain proper 
physical conditions in the soil, the food requirements of 
the plants will be fully met and there will be no necessity 
