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DE GIORGI BROTHERS CO 
Lettuce 
CULTURE—Three lbs. of seed will plant an acre, and 
ounce of seed will produce 3,000 plants. 
To insure success in lettuce growing, rich soil, moderate 
moisture at all times, plenty of sunshine and proper spacing 
is imperative. Start the seed and transplant outdoors early 
so as to escape the hot and dry summer weather. Or start the 
seed late in July for a fall crop and in case of an early frost 
protect the crop by covering with hay or muslin. Space the 
smaller sized varieties like May King 8 inches apart in the 
row, the heavier like Boston or New York 10 inches apart. If 
you grow lettuce without transplanting thin out to proper 
distance as soon as the plants appear. 
Sow the seed in hot beds about February 20th and when 
the plants are about an inch high transplant to cold frames 
3x3 inches. As soon as the soil is thawed out about 3 inches 
deep in the field set out the plants. Lettuce cannot be suc¬ 
cessfully grown during summer and it is of utmost im¬ 
portance to sow early. The home gardener should sow in 
the open as soon as ground is thawed out sufficiently to allow 
the operation real early in March. As soon as the plants 
appear thin out to six inches apart. When the heads begin 
to crowd each other cut out every other plant. Provided 
that your soil is very rich or that you use nitrate of soda you 
will get fine heads following this method of growing. Do 
not hesitate to sow real early as all varieties of lettuce are 
quite hardy with the exception of New York and the crop 
can go through several frosts without injury. 
How to Grow Head Lettuce 
A question that is put to us quite often. To get a crop of 
head lettuce, we sow the seed of New York, Iceberg and other 
large varieties on February 20th, transplant March 12th and 
set out in the field March 18th. We always get good heads. 
About Varieties 
There are four main types of Lettuce. The crisp, cab¬ 
bage-heading, of which New York is the best type. Then 
comes the Butter variety. To this class belong varieties that 
form fine, large heads, not quite as hard as those of New 
York, possessing quality in the highest degree. Buttery, 
leaves soft, of much substance. Hot Weather and California 
Cream Butter are in this class. This quality lettuce should 
be most largely grown. It is not, most markets demand the 
big hard heads of New York. Butter head lettuces are de¬ 
manded by particular buyers. These being in the minority, 
the gardener must grow the rather coarse New York and if 
he is enterprising, he will also grow Romaine lettuce. Ro- 
maine or Cos lettuce makes large heads, oblong in shape, 
will head under adverse conditions and is a lettuce very 
high in quality, sweet and crisp. By many, Cos lettuce is 
regarded as the best of all. The fourth type of lettuce is 
Leaf lettuce of which the best example is Grand Rapids. 
Leaf lettuce does not possess the high quality of the above 
named types but it is easily raised, will stand much neglect 
and lots of adverse weather. When well grown, the heads 
are all that can be desired in appearance and almost in qual¬ 
ity. Note that we say "when well grown." 
Well grown Grand Rapids is all we say it is, if it is 
grown under glass and not allowed t© suffer for moisture 
and air and if the plants are allowed enough space to de¬ 
velop. Under such conditions, you will get from our seed 
big and heavy heads, easy to sell. 
Much more could be said about lettuces, but most gar¬ 
deners know as much about lettuce as we do. Those that 
do not, soon will learn from their brothers so we will stop 
right here and say no more, except to remark that all lettuce 
seed we send out is grown for us in a favored climate, is 
grown by a specialist and is the best there is. 
MUSKMELON OR CANTALOUPE? 
Cantaloupe is a local name for muskmelon in a certain 
part of Italy and should not be used. When applied in the 
IT. S. it designates a shipping type of melon, small to medium 
in size 
HOW TO TELL WHEN A MUSKMELON IS RIPE—The 
net on a ripe melon is hard, the net on unripe melons is soft, 
so that it can be easily rubbed off. 
Muskmelons are rich in health-giving vitamines. Of the 
total solids in a ripe muskmelon about 70% are invert sugars. 
Muskmelons should not be wrapped preparatory to a 
long distance shipment, because when wrapped they are 
slower in cooling and do not retain their edible qualities as 
long as when shipped unwrapped. 
Grand Rapids Special 
GRAND RAPIDS SPECIAL 
GRAND EAPLDS SPECIAL forms compact, heavy heads 
with thick stalks and it is the most handsome lettuce you 
ever saw. The heads are not only of the most beautiful 
appearance, but they also possess high quality. The leaves 
are crisp, sweet and tender and of much substance, and are 
in no way inferior to head lettuce. 
GRAND RAPIDS SPECIAL is the best stock we have been 
able to secure and we tried all the important and reliable 
seed houses of the entire country. So said the owners of an 
immense greenhouse establishment located in our state. This 
concern uses about 80 lbs. of* Grand Rapids Lettuce annually. 
They use our Special Grand Rapids exclusively. Pkt. 10c; oz. 
15c; % lb. 30c; lb. $1.20. 
HOW TO MAKE A HOT BED 
In, a sheltered spot, away from shade, dig a trench 6 feet wide, 
2 feet deep and long enough to accommodate the number of sashes 
to be used. Standard hot bed sash measures 3x6 feet. Line the sides 
of the trench with boards, brick or concrete and to secure good 
drainage place medium sized rocks on the bottom in a layer of about 
4 inches. Above the surface of the ground erect a frame 12 inches 
high in the rear, sloping to 8 inches in front to give an angle for sun 
r®ys and to secure enough “fall” to swiftly carry off rain water. Fill 
the trench with fresh horse manure which you must first pile up and 
allow to heat. When heated and steaming, work the pile over into a 
new pile. This new pile will get hot and steaming again in about 
10 days and by this time has lost enough excess heat and is now 
safe to place into the pit. Fill up the pit to the surface of the 
ground, pack down firmly and evenly, then place over it 4 inches 
of good friable dirt. Put on sashes and do not sow until the heat 
under the sash registers between 80 and 90 degrees. Ventilate your 
plants, give them all the air possible by raising the sashes on cold 
days and removing them entirely on warm days. Water enough 
to soak the soil, but not to reach the manure below. COLD FRAME 
is built on the surface of the ground, like a hot bed in appearance, 
but without the manure. 
A FINE LAWN 
six weeks after seeding can be had by using our Special Lawn Grass 
Mixture. You can buy lawn grass mixtures for half the price we 
ask, which fact is well known to us. We also know that this low 
priced mixture frequently contains an incredible amount of weed 
seeds and other matter that it should not contain. 
We would lower our prices with pleasure, if we could get high 
grade seeds that we use, at low prices. We do not and never will 
send out low grade seed in order to meet low prices of others. 
To completely satisfy you, to create and maintain a feeling that 
prompts you to recommend our seeds with a happy smile, is not an 
easy task and impossible to accomplish when sending out dead seeds, 
chaff, weeds, and dust mixed together and call it lawn grass seed. 
LICE ON VINE CROPS (Aphis). An excellent bulletin giving 
information on how to get rid of aphis and other “bugs" was issued 
and will be sent free to you if you’ll write to: Iowa Agricultural 
Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Ask for circular No. 90. Insect 
Enemies of Melons and Cucumbers in Iowa. 
