.54 FACTS AXD FIGURES OR THE 



about three inches high they are ready for setting in the 

 .field. 



FERTILIZING AND TRANSPLANTING. 



Prepare the land as advised in Chapter II, being sure 

 to use not less than one ton of Canadian hardwood ashes 

 to the acre, as this vegetable is very fond of them. In about 

 a week after you have applied the ashes put on the fertilizer. 

 The following makes an excellent analysis for lettuce : 

 Ammonia, 5%; potash, I27c; available phosphoric acid, 

 9%, using about a ton to the acre, broadcasted and harrowed 

 in. The best way to lay the land off for planting is in checks. 

 Make a wooden rake as advised in the chapter on imple- 

 ments, having the teeth the width you wish the rows apart, 

 marking the first row by a line and the remainder from this 

 -one, so as to get them perfectly straight. These rows are 

 nisually from twelve to eighteen inches apart. Then mark di- 

 agonally across these rows with a similar marker with the 

 teeth the width you wish the plants apart in the row, which 

 is from twelve to sixteen inches. 



SETTING THE PLANTS. 



Set the plants in the row where the diagonal line crosses 

 it, grade them very carefully, and set only the ones that 

 are chunky and have a healthy supply of roots. The best 

 tool for this work is a plasterer's small pointing trowel or a 

 dibbler, which can be made from a broom handle about six 

 inches long, whittled to a point on one end. Most farmers 

 vvho plant lettuce very extensively have several men who 

 are expert plant setters. The plants are dropped by chil- 

 dren or women who keep about twelve feet in advance of the 

 setters. Following the men come children or women, whose 

 business it is to water the plants. One of them can water 

 :as man}' plants as two men can plant You will have to 



