The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-07
uaristies OF Lettuce.

VarietieS OF LettUSC'
WI. Bull in the Garden says; Juuge
+basa varieties from the standpoint OF tne
,-,orLat gardener, who has need to study the
,nsrlxet and find out kinds most acceptaoie
IN the consumer. The things most desired
a-a tenderness and size Of head; the shape
nd color of leaf or head are points on
-,bicb there is much difference of opinion.
When these points are united in single
varietv to the buyers satisfaction, market
is secured. The keeping qualities OF lettuce
after pulling and ability to endure rough or
distant transportation, the quality OF lear,
and ability to stand summer heat and win
ter cold. are other qualities desired by the
grower: a lettuce good for raising in hot
beds is often useless grown out OF doors,
md an early summer lettuce is not adapted
for midsummer. The market demands
constant supply, and this is best secured by
combining excellence with variety.
The first seed sown is usually white seeded
tennis ball Boston market. This, sown IN
January. can be set out in hot-beds in
February, seed of lettuce intended for
growing early out of doors is sown. For
this latter sowing l use white-seeded tennis
ball, Maule's Hanson, Burpee's hard head,
Hepderson's New York, Tomhannock, oak
leaved. These make good succession till
July Is, by sowing the seed at short inter
walls within thirty days, and in the order
given. Another good combination is Bur
pee's hard head, Hanson, Boston curled.
perpetual, Burpee's midsummer. Both
these lists give texture, color, size and form
in lettuce in a way to suit variety Of
tastes Another list, and good one, is
Boston market, Deacon, Simpson, Grand
Rapids, Curled India.
Witnessed tennis ball is good for forcing,
and Grand Rapids is one of the best. In
outdoor culture, the black-seeded tennis
ball is apt to be darker leaved and poorer
quality; it heads evenly and all at once, and
must be cut as soon as the heads are formed,
for if not, the heads open, showing the seed
stalk, and are then unfit for sale. Maule's
Hanson is the best strain of that variety of
lettuce have found; for two years have
had many single heads weighing three
pounds apiece 1t is very sure to head and
has few sports. while the period of cutting
extends over three weeks. Burpee's hard
head is similar in form to tennis ball, but
having red and green on the outer leaves,
heart being yellow; remains two weeks in
condition to market, endures heat well, and
is sure header. Henderson's New York
is large, strong growing. dark leaved,
standing summer heat we'll, the leaf being
rather thick and tough for an early lettuce.
Ithas a very large head, and remains a long
time fit to cut.
Tomhannock l have used for a hot
weather lettuce in July, with good success.
Leaves upright, tender, large, red and yell
low; very satisfactory to some buyers not
hard head. Oak-leaved is one of the best
for hot weather lettuce, remaining edible
for long time, as it does not ruu up to
seed readily; the form of the leaves is pecul-
Jar there is no head, only compact leaves;
the color is lemon yellow. Perpetual is a
good, tender summer lettuce, not running to
seed rapidly, but having little or no head
Burpees midsummer is quite known in cool
spring weather, but under high summer heat
it bleaches to a golden yellow heart, and
makes large, good head. Deacon is a re-
markably large, compact head. strong
growing; fit for either spring or summer
but it is thick leaved, and consequently
neglected in the market when soft leaved
or more tender lettuce is offered. Grand
Rapids lettuce after two seasons trial
proves good all-round lettuce, growing il
heat or cold, and making light colored
tender, soft heads, being specially valuable
for forcing. Boston curled, curled India
Simpson, Hanson, are all old forms Of
lettuce, and are good, but are now, be-
leve. superseded by other kinds which are
better. This list seems to me to contain al
the best varieties, SO far as tried. They, in
turn, may be superseded by better kinds
but for this season these will be found ex-
cellent.
MI