338 Report oF THE HorRTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THR 
erown in each box, one near each corner. Holes for the seeds 
were made one-half inch deep by means of a marker designed for 
this express purpose. About a dozen large plump seeds were 
planted in each hole, and covered evenly with fine earth. After 
germination all but the most vigorous plants were discarded. 
By this method good plants were selected. These were not 
transplanted but grew where the seeds were planted, undis- 
turbed till they were harvested. Although transplanting is not 
necessarily injurious to lettuce nevertheless there is always a 
risk that some of the plants may not pass through the operation 
as successfully as others. Where the plants are under experi- 
ment, therefore, transplanting should be avoided; because it is 
liable to introduce disturbing factors. 
In case a plant under experiment was accidently injured or 
died prematurely its place was immediately filled with another 
plant of the same kind and age, grown for the purpose of meet- 
ing such an emergency, so that the number of plants in each 
box might be kept uniform during the entire period of growth 
and the portion of soil availavle to each plant under experiment 
might be kept as uniform as possible. 
WATERING. 
Hydrant water from the city supply was applied to the surface 
whenever the plants needed it. No attempt was made to meas- 
ure the quantity used. The small percentage of plant-food sup- 
plied in the water may be disregarded in such experiments as 
those under consideration. After the heads began to form, the 
water was applied around the plants and wetting the heads was. 
avoided as much as possible. Where water is applied to the 
heads the leaves are apt to hold more of it than readily evapo- 
rates and thus conditions favorable to the development of rot 
are obtained. 
Up to the time when the leaves covered the soil, cultivation 
followed watering as soon as the ground was fit. This kept 
down weeds and conserved soil moisture. | 
