.-I B C Of FLORIDA TRUCKING 55 



be careful to see that the plants are not put in the ground 

 below the bud, for if they are they can not grow. Make 

 the water carriers pour the water on the ground at the 

 root of the plant and not on the top of it. This not only 

 makes the plant live, but packs the dirt well around the 

 root. Of course, the setter is expected to pack the dirt 

 when he sets the plant, but as the old saying goes, "Every 

 little bit helps ;" and it is impossible to do this work too 

 thoroughly. 



CULTIVATION. 



AVhen the plants have been set about a week or ten days, 

 it is time to start working them. Stir the ground very shal- 

 low at first with the little hoes that come on your hand 

 plow, being careful not to cover them up. It is impossible 

 to work the lettuce too much, especially if you do not have 

 it planted on irrigated land. But let me say right here that 

 any farmer who attempts to grow lettuce without irriga- 

 tion will not have near the success with his crop that he 

 would have if he used it. It is a good idea to give the let- 

 tuce a little fertilizer at each working or every other work- 

 ing, using about 150 to 200 pounds of the same kind you 

 used at first, to the acre, each time. You will find that a large 

 majority of the best lettuce growers in Florida give their 

 lettuce about 150 pounds of nitrate of soda to the acre just 

 before the last working. I have tried this and find that it 

 works to perfection, not only causing the lettuce to head 

 up quicker, but making it larger. 



COVERED LETTUCE. 



In the Gainesville section you will find quite a few grow- 

 ers raising their lettuce under cover. Of course, this costs 

 more money, but you run no chance of your crop freezing, 

 and when all of the outside lettuce is killed by a freeze, it 

 will be all right and will net the grower handsome returns. 



