CULTURAL NOTES ON LETTUCE. 
The numerous varieties of Lettuce may be grouped into two classes— 
Cabbage and Cos. The first group is invaluable for mixed salads at all 
seasons, but more especially in winter and early spring ; the second group 
is most serviceable in the summer season, the leaves being more crisp and 
juicy. In the selection of sorts, leading types should be kept in view. 
Soil, and Preparation. Lettuces require a light rich soil, but by 
a liberal application of manure almost any kind of soil may be suitably 
prepared to ensure a fair supply. Moisture should be available at all times 
and therefore deep cultivation of the ground is of first importance. 
Early Crops. These may be forwarded by sowings made under 
glass from January to March. Start the seed in shallow boxes placed in 
gentle heat, but as the season advances, a frame or a cool greenhouse will 
answer the purpose quite well. When the seedlings from the January or 
early February sowings are about three weeks old it will be advisable to 
prick them out into a bed of light rich earth in frames, or if the season is 
backward and they need a little more nursing, prick them into large shallow 
boxes filled with rich soil, allowing each a space of four inches in either 
direction. Give air whenever practicable and in due course plant out 
about six inches apart, with a view to draw a certain number as soon as 
. they are large enough to be useful, leaving the remainder at nine to twelve 
inches. Successive sowings made in February and March will be treated 
in the same way and will need less nursing. In planting out it is important 
to have the seedlings well hardened, for they are naturally susceptible of 
wind and sunshine. Slugs and snails are extremely partial to young 
Lettuces, and the plants must be protected by the use of lime, soot, or 
salt, in all cases being careful to keep these agents at a reasonable distance 
from the foliage. 
CABBAGE 
Maincrops. From April onwards sowings may be made in the open 
ground, not on an ordinary seed-bed, but in drills about one fogt apart. 
From the time the plants are two inches high they must be drawn for 
planting out elsewhere, leaving a sufficient number to stand nine to twelve 
inches apart, to finish off on the ground. In any and every case the finest 
Lettuces are obtained by sowing in the open and thinning out the plants, 
leaving them to mature in the seed-bed without being transplanted. During 
dry weather ample water must be given. 
July and August sowing. From sowings made during these 
months, the supply of Lettuce from the open ground may be extended 
throughout the autumn, and even into December and January should the 
weather prove favourable. The main conditions essential to success are, 
the use of quick-growing varieties, sowing in good soil where the heads are to 
mature, and early and severe thinning. The thinnings may be transplanted 
if required. 
Winter supplies may be sown from August to October, the earliest 
of these on an open border, and later on ina frame. The seedlings must 
in all cases be thinned and pricked out as soon as large enough, and 
should be planted in fine soil free from recent manure. Some should be 
planted in frames on beds of light soil near the glass, others on a warm 
border, and, if quite convenient, a few may be left in the seed-bed. From 
the frames, the supplies will be ready in time to follow those from late 
summer sowings, and thus through the winter until the frames are cleared 
out for the work of the spring. As to those wintered out, the plants should 
have protection in severe weather. By transplanting early in March to a 
piece of rich light ground in a warm spot, the result will be a valuable 
crop of early summer Lettuce. 
LETTUCE. 
(Lactuca sativa.) French, Laitue pommee. 
Sutton’s Matchless. Since its introduction by us in 1910 this fine Lettuce has 
attained a high degree of popularity. In habit it resembles our well-known Standwell, 
but Matchless is quicker in attaining maturity, and produces a large solid heart with 
but few small outside leaves. Stands a considerable time before running, and is a 
fairly early Lettuce. (Illustrated) per packet, 1s. 6d. and 2s. 6d.; ounce, 3s. 
‘Your Matchless Cabbage Lettuce has done splendidly with me. It is all that you claim 
for it, fine solid heads that mature quickly and do not bolt so readily as some varieties. It is also 
excellent in flavour..—Mr. J. PARSONS, Gardener to T. H. Spry, Esq. 

Sutton’s Heartwell. This Lettuce has very few waste leaves; indeed, the plant is 
nearly all heart, exceedingly crisp and sweet. The special merit is the unusual time 
the heads remain solid, standing fit for use long after many really good Lettuces have 
run to seed. Leaves dark in colour—darker, in fact, than those of our Standwell, 
which it somewhat resembles in habit. Award of Merit, Royal Horticultural Society, 
August 2, 1910. (lllustrated) ... per packet, 1s. 6d. and 2s. 6d.; ounce, 3s. 
‘Your Heartwell Lettuce is a boon to gardeners. From May to October I was cutting 
splendid heads, without a break.’—Mr. E. TURNER, The Rectory Gardens. 
COPYRIGHT S, &S, 
SUTYLON’S MATCHLESS. 
Sutton’s Ideal. The great value of this Cabbage Lettuce is now widely recognised; 
hearts compact, of good size, and first-rate in quality ; leaves slightly tinged with red. 
Stands a long time before running to seed. (Illustrated) 
per packet, 1s. and 1s. 6d.; ounce, 2s. 9d. 
‘I have found your seeds again this year, as usual, absolutely reliable. Among other things 
your Ideal Cabbage Lettuce has been excellent. For all-round purposes nothing can be better.’— 
Mr. G. H. HEAD, Kingsdon Gardens. 

COPYRIGHT S. &S, 
SUTTON’S HEARTWELL. 
’ 
Sutton’s Golden Ball. 4 most attractive and useful early dwarf Lettuce. 
Deliciously crisp and sweet. Does extremely well under glass and is valuable 
for autumn sowing in open ground as it has remained uninjured by cold weather. 
(Illustrated page 47, and also in colours page 24) 
per packet, 1s. and 1s. 6d. ; ounce, 2s. 9d. 
‘The Cabbage Lettuce, Sutton’s Golden Ball, is a splendid variety, especially for forcing. 
I am still cutting from hand-lights outdoors—December 20th.’—Mr. E. HasLop, Gardener to 
LEONARD THRING, Esq. 
Sutton’s Commodore Nutt. For first crops in large gardens and for general 
use in small gardens this compact little Lettuce is very greatly prized. It yields an 
immense quantity of salad when thinned or planted out from 4 to 6 inches apart. 
Flavour excellent ; colour dark green. Will endure severe weather and is therefore 
suitable for autumn sowing. Highly Commended, R.H.S., 1918 and 1919 
per packet, 1s. and 1s. 6d.; ounce, 2s. 9d. 
SUTTON & SONS, Seed Growers and Merchants, READING, ENGLAND. 

COPYRIGHT S, &§, 
SUTTON’S IDEAL. 


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