


LETTUCE 
Sow 1% to 1 pound in seed-bed to plant an acre, or plant 1 to 14% pounds per acre in field. 
For the garden make two plantings at different times. Sow 1 packet in a protected seed-bed for 60 to 80 plants 
to set 50 to 75 feet of row at each planting for a family of 3 or 4 people, or plant 1 packet of seed in 50 to 75 
feet of row at each planting. 
CuLturE. First sowings are made in Florida the beginning 
of September and continue until March. Low, damp soil is 
best suited for this crop. Lettuce must be grown rapidly in 
order to give it size, tenderness, crispness, and high edible 
quality. Therefore, the land must be highly fertilized and 
moist. In Florida about one ton per acre of 4-5-5 fertilizer is 
commonly used for this crop, except the Imperial type, where 
800 to 1200 pounds per acre of a 3-8-8 fertilizer is recom- 
mended. It is advisable to treat lettuce seed with Spergon 
(see page 49) just before sowing, which has a tendency to 
repel ants and prevents them from carrying seed away. Broad- 
cast the seed on good moist seed-beds that have been thorough- 
ly prepared, or sow in rows six inches apart and use a light roller 
to press seed into soil. A pound of seed sown broadcast plants a 
bed three feet by a hundred yards. Place burlap or well-washed 
old fertilizer sacks over the beds until seeds sprout. Old fertilizer 
sacks must be thoroughly washed before using to prevent burn- 
ing of seed sprouts. Be sure seed beds are kept thoroughly 
moist at all times after the seed is.planted. In hot weather 
germination may be hastened and improved by placing moist- 
ened lettuce seed in moist cloth in the icebox for several days 
before sowing. In level culture, lettuce plants are usually set 15 
by 15 inches in the field, or in rows 114 to 2 feet apart, and 10 
to 15 inches in the row, or in double rows 16 inches apart, 
with 31% to 4 feet from center to center of double rows, and 14 
inches in the rows. Plants should be watered as set in field. 
Rusting of head lettuce and Romaine is usually due to boron 
deficiency. To prevent or stop this trouble, it is recommended 
to spray with | lb. borax to 50 gallons of water. This should 
be applied at the rate of not more than a total of 4 pounds 
borax per acre in two applications. Too much borax is toxic. 
The number of days in parentheses after each variety named 
represents the time required to develop marketable heads from 
the planting of seed in seed-bed or in the field or garden under 
average Florida conditions. 
Prices quoted are postpaid. 
Write for special prices on larger quantities. 
IMPERIAL NO. 44. (82 days.) This variety is exceedingly 
slow to go to seed, even if started in hot weather or early fall, 
or if grown in yery late spring in Florida. It is one of the 
safest varieties of the Iceberg type from the standpoint of high 
temperature tolerance. It matures slightly earlier, makes slight- 
ly smaller, flatter and broader heads than No. 847. To get 
good size requires somewhat heavier fertilization than No. 847. 
It produces exceedingly solid, hard heads, of high quality over 
a long season. It can be planted earlier—before September 
25th, and later—after December, than can be No. 847 in Cen- 
tral and South Florida. It is especially well suited for Florida 
muck-land culture. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 35c; 4 Ib. $1.00; 1 Ib. $3.40 
GREAT LAKES. (83 days.) This variety of the Iceberg 
type lettuce was introduced by us to Florida growers. As a 
result of commercial trial plantings in different sections of 
Florida, this variety shows much promise, especially as a late 
spring hot weather variety. In our comparative trials it con- 
sistently cut a higher percentage of marketable heads than either 
No. 44 or No. 847. The plants of Great Lakes are large, vig- 
orous and have a distinctive, deep grassy-green, attractive ap- 
pearance. Leaves are large, with rather deeply serrated mar- 
gins, and very heavy midribs. The heads are relatively large, 
compact, firm and solid, with abundant wrapper leaves which 
cover the heads, protecting them from cold and heat injury. 
Experience indicates that Great Lakes will stand higher tem- 
peratures, is much less subject to bottom rot, tip burn and 
slime rot, and does not bolt as readily as either 847 or 44. It 
offers a splendid possibility for prolonging the Florida lettuce 
growing season in late spring, and in early fall. Our trials 
indicate this variety does as well or better than other varieties 
of this type throughout the entire lettuce planting season in 
Florida. This variety won a medal in the All-America selec- 
tions of 1943, which is conclusive evidence of its superior 
characteristics. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 55c; %4 Ib. $1.65; 1 lb. $6.00 

Ocoee White Boston 
OCOEE WHITE BOSTON. (75 days.) This strain of 
White Boston was originated and developed in the Winter Gar- 
den section of Florida, and has been selected under Florida 
conditions for the development of a large framed lettuce simi- 
lar to Big Boston. It produces larger heads, and bigger yields 
than any other strain of White Boston. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; 14 Ib. 60c; 1 lb. $2.00 
BIG BOSTON. (75 days.) The heads are of cabbage or 
butter-head type, large-sized, broad, slightly spreading, globu- 
lar, with a broad shoulder at the base. The outer leaves are 
broad, almost smooth, but wavy at the edge, medium light 
green with a tinge of brown on outer leaf margins. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 25c; % Ib. 60; 1 Ib. $2.00 
IMPERIAL NO. 847 (Florida Iceberg). (84 days.) This 
variety of the Iceberg type makes heads that have a very large 
frame, with a solid, compact, well bleached base, round in 
shape and medium green in color, very large and heavy. This 
variety is somewhat more sensitive to heat than Iceberg No. 44, 
and is especially recommended for a crop to be harvested in 
midwinter in Florida, at which season it produces heads of 
the highest quality. It should not be planted prior to October 
15th or after December, in central and south Florida. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 30c; %4 Ib. 85c; 1 Ib. $3.00 
SIMPSON, BLACK-SEEDED. (46 days.) The best large, 
very early, non-heading or leaf variety. The leaves are very 
broad, much blistered and crumpled, and excessively frilled 
on the borders, light yellowish green in color, very tender, of 
fine delicate texture, and of excellent quality. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; 4 Ib. 60c; 1 Ib. $2.00 
ROMAINE (WHITE PARIS COS OR TRIANON COS). 
(66 days.) This variety forms a large, medium green, well. 
folded head with blunt top, and when properly grown it is 
very sweet, crisp, mild, and of fine quality. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; 4 Ib. 60c; 1 Ib. $2.00 
KILGORE’S MAMMOTH ROMAINE. (73 days.) Our 
Mammoth Romaine is taller and much more vigorous and makes 
much larger heads with correspondingly heavier yields com. 
pared to other strains of Romaine or: Cos lettuce. See second 
paragraph under “Culture” for; control of rusting. 
Seed crop a complete failure. 
No seed available until fall 1945 
General Offices and Mail Order Department, Plant City, Florida 21 
