138 
apply when the plants are grown under conditions similar to those 
which we have observed, and which we will here delineate. 
It has been our custom to sow theseed of all the varieties as early 
as possible in spring, in rich soil, in rows either twenty-one inches 
apart, or twice that distance, thinning the plants as they began to 
crowd each other, to at first six inches apart in the row, and later to 
remove every alternate plant, thus leaving the full grown plants one 
foot apart in the row. Grown in this way, the plants have full op- 
portunity to develop their individual characters. We have reasons 
for believing that the varieties of lettuce grown under equal condi- 
tions are remarkably constant. 
The descriptions have all been made from plants in the garden, 
and when possible our own notes have been compared with the des- 
criptions of Vilmorin, or Burr, or both these authors. It has been 
our endeavor to make the descriptions more complete than any here- 
tofore made. We haye attempted to describe particularly the por- 
tions which constitute the distinguishing characters of the varieties; 
but in many cases these are so few, or the differences which they 
represent are so obscure, that we have found no other recourse than 
to give careful descriptions of all the visible characters. 
In the choice of names for the varieties described we have aimed at 
brevity and distinctness. We have carefully avoided the use of any 
name that would be likely to cause confusion with the name of any 
other variety. This has necessitated changing in a few cases the 
name under which the variety has been generally known, substitut- 
ing asynonym that does not tend toconfusion. We have in no case 
coined a name. 
We have taken especial pains to give French and German syno- 
nyms, when these could be obtained. Asis well known, much of the 
lettuce seed used in this country is imported from France and Ger- 
many. Hence we regard. an international list of synonyms as of 
great value in preserving a uniform system of names. For the 
German synonyms used, we are indebted principally to Messrs. Vil- 
morin, Andrieux & Co. 
Explanation of terms used in describing varveties. 
The words used in describing the form and outline of the leaves 
have precisely the same signification as in Botany. In lettuce, how- 
ever, the surface of the leaf furnishes several distinguishing charac- 
ters, dependent upon the degree of smoothness, etc., the clear ex- 
pression of which necessitates the use of a few words not employed in 
botanical descriptions. These we will endeavor to explain. 
We distinguish between margin and border, as applied to the leaf, 
restricting the former to the line describing the contour, and the lat- 
ter to that part of the blade adjacent to the margin. 
In many varieties of lettuce the border is more developed than 
the rest of the leaf, which causes this part to become more or less 
waved. When the ridges and depressions thus formed are but slight, 
as in the Spotted Cos lettuce, we have called the border wxdulate; 
when, however, they are very strongly marked, so that the depres- 
sions are nearly or quite as deep as broad, as in the Curled Simp- 
son lettuce, we have called the border ruffed. A border that 1s 
neither undulate nor ruffled is called plain. 
In many varieties the part between the veins is developed in 
excess of the veins, which causes this part to puff out, forming el- 


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