The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-08
short Chapters on Vegetable Cultur,
LETTUCE.

short Chapters on Vegetable Culture.
LETTUCE.
The lettuce is most deservedly a popular
vegetable. As a salad plant it ranks with
Gallery and tomato. All three occupy their
special fields and encroach little or none on
each others seasons. Lettuce comes first. as
the harbinger of the renewed springtime.
Ry artificial means it may be had continu~
oisly through the winter but il is not
specially relished by the majority Of per-
sons until the appearance of the spring sea-
son. when warmer weather has taken the
Mace of cold winter.
The market gardeners near the cities aud
barge towns find lettuce one of the most
profitable crops that they can grow. The
early spring crop is eagerly sought after by
all classes. In the cities and large towns
the supply and demand are more constant
than it is in rural settlements, where home
gardening is more general, and a greater
Variety of early vegetables comes in to COM
pete with lettuce. Still the consumption of
lettuce is very great in every section, and
80 long as IL eau be had in q fresh, crisp con-
dition there is more or less demand for it I'D
10 midsummer.
Some of the growers near the large cities
clear as much as 81 cooper acre in growing
lettuce, growing as much US four crops OF IL
on the same land in one season. When not
planted in with other crops as is often the
case, the plants are set out about foot
apart each way, which allows of over 40. 600
plants per acre.
In growing it for market it can be grown
more economically by having tbs plants In
rows or "a feet apart, and where good
cabbage variety is grown, such as the Bos-
ton Market. the plants can be set to 10
inches apart in the row or even little bit
closer if the soil is made as rich as it should
be.
very large and desirable kind for shipment,
distance of IL inches in the row
should be given. These "Cos" varieties
when grown to the highest state of perfec-
ton are well worth 5 cents in market, but
even at 2 or % cents per head can be made
very profitable if a good market is at hand.
To make lettuce growing give the salts
faction that it should it must be made to
produce large crisp heads and have it for
use early in the season. The market
gardener in the south sows the seeds in cold
frames in December and provides strong !,
stocky plants tor setting out In January
and February. Plants can also be provided
for early spring use by sowing the seeds in
the open air, in warm border, in October
or early November. These plants can be
readily protected from the severe weather
with pine straw. ~.
Good stable manure compost, with cotton
seed and bone dust and ashes, should be used
to enrich the soil unless it is already very
rich, which usually it 10 not Strong, un-
fermented manure should not be used in the
burrows; it is apt to fire" the plants in dry
spells. After the plants have started into
active growth in February, if the color of
the plant and the slowness of growth inS
dictate a lack of heterogeneous food, there is
nothing better to top dress about the plants
with than nitrate of soda, at the rate Of $50
TO 200 pounds per acre. A tablespoonful of
it spread about the plant in all directions, to
the distance of eight or ten inches, will have
prompt and marked effect on the growth
Of the crop.
The best varieties of lettuce are the "Bos-
ton Market" "Hendersons New York;
"Saamander" and "Paris White Co.'S" A
variety of the "Cos" lettuce, known as
Celery" lettuce or "Trianon," is but an
Improvement of the long known and I'M
surpassed kind. There are over hundred
named sorts in our American catalogues,
but no better selection than those named
can be made. Some kinds are much slower
in shooting to seed than the others, and for
late crop such kind should be chosen
The "Salamander" possesses this valuable
Characteristic as much so as any va
rlety, we believe. Some varieties of
lettuce are beautifully fringed and
colored and are consequently quite Or
namental, but for practical use the
most desirable characteristics of lettuce are
snowy whiteness and crispness, with en-
tire lack of bitterness The best varieties
Of lettuce that we now have represent per-
lection in this vegetable, and there is hardly
any room for Improvement and no need for
the further multiplication of names. South
ern gardeners should save their own seed
from perfectly developed heads 8. A. c.