18 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



February, 1913 



winter months from the South, proved a 

 dismal failure during spring trials. In the 

 fall, when cool nights prevailed, it did 

 splendidly. 



Among the head lettuces we find different 

 sorts which are distinctly adapted to 

 spring, summer or fall cultivation. The 

 real distinction, however, lies in their 

 growth, which divides head lettuces into two 

 broad classes — the "butter head" and "crisp 

 head" sorts. Among the "butter-head" sorts 

 we find varieties for all seasons, while the 

 "crisp head" varieties prove the reliable 

 stand-bys during the hot summer months. 



The secret of success in growing lettuce 

 throughout spring, summer and fall lies 

 in selecting varieties that, by nature, are 

 best adapted to thrive in the different 

 seasons. I am glad 

 to say that, from 

 among several hun- 

 dred sorts 

 listed by . 



Cream Butter. These matured in the 

 order named, furnishing deliciously mild 

 butter head lettuce from the middle of 

 June until June 25 th, when the last heads 

 of California Cream Butter "bolted." 



May 4th, sowings were made of All 

 Seasons, Iceberg and New York or Wonder- 

 ful. All these proved fine heat resisters, 

 furnishing crisp lettuce from the end of 

 June until about July 20th. 



May 30th, when the rows of Iceberg and 

 New York were "thinned" to let seedlings 

 stand four inches apart, the sturdiest of these 

 seedlings were transplanted. These supplied 

 the table from July 20th until August 1st. 

 July 10th repeated sowings were made 

 of All Seasons and Iceberg. These two 

 varieties had proved their heat resistance 

 in a splendid manner in previous 

 trials. I cut from these rows 

 from the middle of August 

 until September 1st. 



August 1st I sowed a 



short row 



e a c h o f 



V Wayahead, 



Ideal development, due to giving ample space and constant cultivation 

 This plant of Wayahead was started in the house and transplanted out- 

 doors very early in spring 



American seedmen, I have found ten that 

 will furnish a perfect succession. 



CRISP LETTUCE FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 



Before describing the most important 

 characteristics of the ten varieties which 

 proved the leaders in this trial, let me 

 explain how the programme to secure a 

 constant supply of lettuce was worked out. 



March 15^, Early Curled Simpson was 

 sown in a coldframe. By April 15th, well- 

 hardened plants were transplanted into 

 the open ground. At the same time beet 

 seeds were sown between these rows of 

 lettuce. Curled Simpson from this plant- 

 ing supplied the table from early in May 

 until about the middle of June. 



Middle of A pril, four 1 5-foot rows were 

 sown to the following: Golden Queen, 

 Wayahead, May King and California 



two va- 

 r ieties 

 supplied the 

 table in a most 

 satisfactory fash- 

 ion between Sep- 

 tember 15th and 

 October ist,when 

 Crisp as Ice came 

 to its own as the 

 hardiest of all lettuces. It provided an 

 elegant salad until about October 25th, 

 when we quickly used the last few heads 

 before hard frosts would injure them. 



TEN SPLENDID LETTUCES 



Early Curled Simpson is the only "loose- 

 head" variety which played a part in this 

 test. The variation between it, Black 

 Seeded Simpson, and Boston is not suffi- 

 ciently important under outdoor culti- 

 vation to make special mention worth 

 while. Any one of these three will do 

 well under favorable conditions in the 

 home-garden. 



Golden Queen (butter head) is a dandy 

 little variety forming compact yellowish- 

 green heads within six weeks from date of 

 planting seeds. In this test it proved fully 

 four days earlier than May King and almost 



as early as Wayahead which formed a great 

 deal looser heads. 



Wayahead (butter head) very much 

 resembles May King in general appearance, 

 but matures a few days earlier. To score 

 some unusual results with this remarkable 

 lettuce, seeds should be started very early 

 in the house and plants set out into the 

 open as soon as the weather permits. Under 

 such conditions it will prove its remarkable 

 earliness and high quality in a most unusual 

 manner. 



May King (butter head) is still without 

 a rival as the best all-round early outdoor 

 lettuce. It resists cold and wet weather 

 in a marked degree, always forms splendid, 

 solid heads of bright green color, tinged 

 with reddish brown on the edges of the 

 centre leaves. Its clear yellow heart and 

 delightful "buttery" flavor win May King 

 many new friends every year. 



California Cream Butter (butter head) 

 is the largest and latest of these early 

 varieties of this type. It is of distinct 

 bright green color, with brown speckles 

 all over the outside leaves. It matures 

 fully ten days after May King, furnishing 

 large but rather loose heads with golden yel- 

 low inside leaves of delightfully mild flavor. 



Big Boston (butter head) should not be 

 sown outdoors in this latitude in the spring. 

 It will not head up firmly and the loose 

 heads are only of very indifferent quality. 

 In the fall, under the influence of cold 

 nights, it forms tightly folded, firm, heavy 

 heads, and develops a quality that has 

 not been surpassed. 



All Seasons may be described as a black- 

 seeded "Deacon." Those who are familiar 

 with the merits of that old-time favorite 

 will be more delighted with All Seasons. 

 In time of maturity, general appearance 

 and quality not unlike Deacon, All Seasons 

 resists the heat even better. Furnishes a 

 delicate, buttery salad of finest quality. 



Iceberg is the first of the "crisp heads" 

 which proved to be reliable stand-bys 

 during the hot summer months. The 

 reason why this and the next variety often 

 rot rather than burst, is found in the strong 

 centre ribs of the leaves. These bend 

 firmly toward the heart of the plant, 

 keeping it well protected and thoroughly 

 blanched. The flavor of the "crisp head" 

 sorts is distinctly stronger than that of 

 the "butter head." 



New York or Wonderful is of distinctly 

 dark green color, as compared with the 

 almost yellowish-green outer foliage of 

 Iceberg. It grows nearly half as large 

 again and matures from a week to ten days 

 later. For a continuous supply of crisp 

 lettuce during the summer months, these 

 two are absolutely indispensable. 



Crisp-as-Ice is, perhaps, the least known 

 member of these three remarkable crisp 

 head varieties. Its mission is unique. I 

 believe it to be the hardiest of all lettuces 

 in cultivation to-day, since it will stand 

 freezes that turn other sorts black. Crisp- 

 as-Ice has often stood unprotected in the 

 garden in this section up to Thanksgiving. 



