CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
357 
495. Planting. — Soil preparation should be thorough. 
Plants that have been well hardened may be set in the 
open ground as early as cabbage. When planted alone, 
they are usually set 1 foot apart each way, although 14 
inches gives a better chance for cultivation. Seed is sown 
in the open from early spring until late fall, and all win- 
ter in the far South. It is customary to drill in rows 
about 1 foot apart and to thin to a foot or less. (See Fig- 
ure 85.) In home gardens the plants are often thinned 
FIG. 85. HEAD LETTUCE ON THE LEFT. COS LETTUCE 
ON THE RIGHT 
at first to about 4 inches and later to I foot. This 
secures much better lettuce than when the seed is sown 
in beds, all the plants allowed to grow and the mass of 
leaves cut when wanted for the table. In the Norfolk 
region the plants are set to x 10 in beds with alleys be- 
tween. With some protection, as a natural forest or a 
windbreak of hedges or a tight board fence, the plants 
usually winter in excellent condition. Lettuce is one of 
the most popular vegetables for companion cropping. 
See Chanter XXIII. Tt is also grown in succession on 
