30 



FERRY'S SEEDS 



White Boston 



LETTUCE 



The vital necessity of including gi-een leafy vegetables in the 

 daily diet is no longer seriously questioned. Foremost among 

 such vegetables must be reckoned the succulent leaves and heads 

 of lettuce. Suited by nature to cultivation wherever vegetables 

 can be grown, it is one of the most widely kno^Ti of all gai'den 

 species. It is rich in vitamines and other health promoting ele- 

 ments and is so easily grown that no home garden seems com- 

 plete without a generous supply. 



Lettuce seed germinates quickly and may be planted as soon 

 as the cold wet days of spring are past. The home gardener will 

 find it best to sow seed in rows 15 to 18 inches apart, covering 

 not more than }^^ inch deep. The loose leaved tj^pe may be 

 thinned to an inch or so apaii: as soon as a few leaves are formed 

 and when large enough for the table may be thinned as used. 

 In this way space is provided at about the same rate as required 

 for normal gi'owth. 



The conditions necessaiy to grow good head lettuce ai'e rich 

 soil, plenty of moisture, and steady growth from the time the 

 seeds are planted until the heads are ready to use. A check in 

 growth from lack of nourishment or moistm-e usually means no 

 head. 



The most satisfactory results wUl be obtained from growing 

 lettuce in cool weather; the seed should therefore be sown in 

 boxes indoors or in the hot bed and set out as soon as weather 

 conditions are favorable. If this is not practicable sowing may 

 be made in the open gi-ound as soon as soil and weather condi- 

 tions permit. The plants should be thinned to 10 inches apart in 

 the row and thorough cultivation given to keep dowTi the weeds 

 and conserve moisture. A hght apphcation of fertihzer, such as 

 nitrate of soda, used after the plants have made some gi'owth 

 will be found very beneficial. 



The most common causes of failure in growing head lettuce 

 are too late planting and failure to give sufficient room for the 

 plants to develop properly. 



We beUeve that if the suggestions given above are followed 

 the home gardener can be reasonably sure of obtaining a good 

 lettuce crop in an average season. 



HEADING VARIETIES 



BIG BOSTON This forms a solid compact head of good size, 

 the interior of which is verj^ rich yeUow. Even before they 

 tighten the loose heads are much esteemed on account of 

 their fine butterj' flavor. The outer leaves are of an attrac- 

 tive gi'een color and the edges are tinged with bro^%'n. For 

 the home garden it is one of the best of its tj'pe and is easily 

 grown. 



Pkt. 10c; oz. 25c; 1/4 lb. 65c; lb. $2.00. 

 CALIFORNIA CREAM BUTTER A valuable variety for 

 autumn and early winter in California and other sections 

 where the chmate is mild. It is equally useful as a spring 

 and earlj' summer variety in the North. The outer leaves 

 are moderately thick, shghtly tinged with brown and show 

 a hght sprinkling of brown spots. The head is large and firm, 

 a rich golden yellow at the heart, and of appetizing quality. 



Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; Vi lb. 45c; lb. $1.50. 



CRISP AS ICE The leaves of this varietj' are crisply crinkled 

 and are rich deep gi'een overlaid with dark bronze. The 

 crisp head is comparatively small but verj- tight and is white 

 at the heart. It will form heads under quite adverse condi- 

 tions and is much esteemed for home garden use on this 

 account. 

 Pkt. 10c; oz. 30c; 1/4 lb. 75c; lb. $2.25. 



HANSON A handsome rich green lettuce with crumpled 

 leaves which are fringed at the edges. It forms a brittle 

 cabbage type of head of hght yeUo^^ish green exterior and a 

 white heart. This is an old favorite home garden variety 

 and one of the most widely used in aU parts of America. 

 It is especiaUj' recommended for early spring and summer 

 growing. 

 Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; 1/4 lb. 45c; lb. $1.50. 



ICEBERG This is crisp heading -n-ith curlj' leaves of hght 

 green, tinged with brown on the margins. It forms a hard 

 head of crisp tender quahty and on account of the thin 

 texture of the leaves is principally hmited to home garden 

 use. This is quite distinct from the variety usuallj^ sold by 

 green grocers under the name of Iceberg. 

 Pkt. 10c; oz. 25c; 1/4 lb. 65c; lb. $2.00. 



MAMMOTH BLACK SEEDED BUTTER The leaves of this 

 vai'iety are but slightlj- crumpled and are imiformly medium 

 green in color, with a thick or fleshj^ texture. It forms a 

 lai-ge beautifuUj- green head of tender buttery quality and 

 is much esteemed as a garden variety. 

 Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; 1/4 lb. 55c; lb. $1.75. 



MAY KING One of the earhest varieties to form a firm head. 

 It is medium sized, medium light green on the exterior with 

 a veiy light margin of bro-wn on the outside of the central 

 leaves. The head is creamy yellow at the heart and of excel- 

 lent quaht}-. Especially recommended for spring planting 

 in the home garden. 

 Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; 1/4 lb. 55c; lb. $1.75. 



MIGNONETTE A small compact growing tj^je with leaves 

 of deep emerald gi-een heavily shaded with deep brown. 

 The leaves are wa^y and crinkled and the heads are almost 

 white at the heart. They often become firm and hard even in 

 hot weather and are sweet and crisp. As the heads form 

 earlv this is verv useful for home gai-den cultm'e. 

 Pkt. I"0c; oz. 30c;V4 lb. 75c; lb. $2.25. 



NEW YORK The most extensivelj' grown of all heading 

 varieties. The leaves are not bronzed nor tinged with brown 

 but are rich deep gi'een in color. Thej' are slightly blistered 

 and are beautifully waved at edges. The heads are large 

 and sj^mmetrical with white interiors and are frequently 

 as sohd as good cabbages. Most of the lettuce sold by green 

 grocers is of this variety but it is generally sold under the 

 name of Iceberg. It is a cool weather lettuce and will seldom 

 form heads in hot weather. 

 Pkt. 10c; oz. 30c; 1/4 lb. 80c; lb. $2.50. 



New York 



