FORCING LETTUCE UNDER GLASS. 



605 



When the plants are about five feet high, or when 

 three or four clusters of fruit have set, the terminal bud 

 should be pinched off. This will cause the vitality of 

 the plant to be utilized in the development of the fruit. 

 At this time it is well to stir the surface of the soil and 

 work in a quantity of manure. A little more soil may 

 also be added. 



In the general care of the house, 

 it will be necessary to attend care- 

 fully to : I, temperature ; 2, hu- 

 midity of atmosphere ; 3, water- 

 ing ; 4, pollination. 



A temperature of 60° should be 

 maintained at night. On bright 

 days the mercury may run up to 

 80°, or higher ; but in dark weather, 

 ventilate at 70°. Do not permit 

 cold draughts to strike the plants. 

 While the plants are young, the 

 atmosphere of the house should be 

 kept quite moist, as the plants will 

 make a better growth, and the ' ' red 

 spider " can be more easily held in 

 check. When the plants are in 

 fruit, the atmosphere must be 

 dryer, but it is well, after polli- 

 nating, to sprinkle the walks and 

 tables. 



In watering, special care must 

 be exercised. An abundance of 

 water should be given ; still, the 

 soil must not be kept saturated. 

 A general rule would be to give 

 eighteen-inch boxes a thorough 



watering every second day ; or in dark weather every 

 third day. The necessity of thoroughness in watering 

 is emphasized, for trouble is frequently given by simply 

 sprinkling the surface. The soil looks moist, but down 

 where the roots are it may be perfectly dry, and as soon 

 as the sun shines brightly, the plants wilt. This is a 

 check which should never be permitted. 



An advantage of watering only once in two or three 

 days during the fruiting season, is the increased proba- 

 bility of successful pollination. The best time to polli- 



nate (" fertilize "), is about noon on bright days. Pre- 

 vious to this time, the ventilators may be opened some- 

 what and the atmosphere dried by sun and artificial 

 heat. The operation consists simply in giving each 

 plant two or three sharp taps with a padded stick. It is 

 quickly done, and is usually very satisfactory. 



There are several varieties which do well under glass. 



A Tomato House. — Training the Young Plants 



All things considered, however, the Lorillard is, perhaps, 

 the best forcing tomato. It is uniformly of medium 

 size, good quality, handsome color, and is prolific. 

 Volunteer and Dwarf Champion are good. The latter 

 is too small, but is very handsome, and its habit is such 

 that it may be grown much nearer the glass than other 

 varieties. The larger varieties seem inclined to be 

 irregular when grown under glass, and this is not admis- 

 sible in a hot-house tomato. 



Cornell Univcrsitv. W. M. Munson. 



FORCING LETTUCE UNDER GLASS. 



HE SOIL for growing lettuce 

 should be composed of three 

 parts of rich, sandy loam and 

 two parts well- rotted horse 

 manure. Thoroughly mix 

 them together by turning sev- 

 eral times, and make as fine as 

 possible. This compost would 

 be all the better if prepared and put under cover 

 six months previous to being used. The plants 



should be ready for transplanting into the beds by 

 the second week in September. They are thus put 

 into market early, and the houses are used to the 

 best advantage. To have plants ready at this 

 time, prepare a bed of rich light soil out of doors, 

 and plant it with true seed of the Boston Market, 

 as that is one of the best kinds of forcing lettuce 

 for earl}' work, not later than the second week in 

 August. . Have a round rod two inches in diameter 

 with which to make the drills, and press it into the 



