208 MAKING HORTICULTURE PAY 



investment, the area of glass subject to circum- 

 stances. My experience for some years," writes 

 Frank S. Miller of Franklin county, Ohio, " has 

 been with a forcing house or houses of 10,000 

 square feet and 400 cold frame sashes 3x6 feet. 

 The forcing houses are used exclusively for vege- 

 tables. About September 1 lettuce is sown in one 

 of the cold frames and transplanted 1x2 inches 

 apart. As soon as it has become well established 

 with good fibrous roots, it is transferred to the 

 forcing house, having been previously fertilized 

 with well-decomposed manure, or, in its absence, 

 fresh horse manure, spread evenly over the bed, 

 which is then given a good watering. Either 

 turned under carefully has given satisfactory re- 

 sults, and will serve for two crops. The distance 

 apart in permanent beds is 8 x 8 inches. 



" The best variety for winter forcing, in my ex- 

 perience, is Grand Rapids. If possible, never let 

 the plants wilt after setting in permanent beds. 

 After 48 hours root formation will have commenced. 

 Afterward water freely. As soon as the surface 

 soil is in proper condition loosen it up well, as a 

 fine, well-pulverized soil prevents rot and also 

 lengthens the intervals several days between 

 watering. 



" Supposing the gardener to keep on hand a con- 

 stant supply of young plants, repeat the above pro- 

 gram until the house is full. In five or six weeks 

 the first planting should be ready for market. As 

 soon as a bed or portion of a bed is cut, work 

 the soil over and replant. Three crops can be 

 grown, making the returns from a house very re- 

 munerative. We use Grand Rapids, a hardy and 

 satisfactory variety, in preference to head lettuce. 

 The latter kinds are more susceptible to rot, and, 



