The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1905-09-23
FARMER AND PLANTER.
FOR TIE TRUCK FARMERS.
n Chapter On the Fall, Winter and
Spring Lettuce Crop ON the
Southern Truck Farms.

The cultivation of lettuce in frame:
covered either with cloth or glass ha;
developed into a vast industry in tn
South Atlantic trucking sections, ant
the North Carolina station horticultur.
list has e~ndeavoredi to study not only
methods but the varieties best adapted
TO the use Of the market gardeners a
the different seasons. In this region
favored with a mild winter climate, tht
growers are fast Tearing that with 6
little protection they a produce o
line lettuce as can be grown in the
northern hothouses, and the crop has
become n of the leading interests.
One of the growers recently wrote
asking me the following questions:
What variety is best for setting in
the open ground in the fall? 1 want
a big, heavy headed variety that is a
good seller in the northern markets.
Then want a lettuce for the frames,
and one for the spring market from
outside"
Another grower writes that he is
growing frame lettuce only and has
now his frames filled with COW peas,
which he proposes to let lie down and
spade them in as a fertilizer, and
wants to know if they will not serve in
place of stable manure if he adds
plenty of the mineral fertilizers. AS
this is a matter Of general interest I
will, after having given both my ideas
on the subject, say more for the pur-
pose of helping others.
My first inquirer does not say
whether he wants to set the lettuce for
fall heading in the open ground or for
wintering in the field and heading in
the spring. This will make quite a
difference in the varieties. Seed Of the
Big Boston, or the California Cream
Butter Lettuce sown about the middle
of August thinly broadcast, can be set
in well-manured and fertilized soil and
headed before the weather is cold
enough to need the protection Of the
frames, and this crop, coming in in No
vember and early December, is usually
a very profitable once, since the cost of
growing is far less where the frames
are used.
But one thing is needed to be
known by all lettuce growers. This is
that the plant is a very gross feeder
ard must be we'll fed for the best re-
suits. The most careful experiments
at this and other experiments stations
have shown that either in the open
ground, in frames and in hothouses,
manure alone will not make the best
nor will common fertilizers
alone. The slow nitriication of the Or
ganic matter supplied by the manure
seems to be necessary, while the read
lily soluble commercial fertilizer is also
needed to push the growth. The most
successful growers have found this out
as we'll as the station Investigators.
For a number of years I have been
studying under numerous difficulties
and with meager facilities the charac-
teristics Of the varieties of lettuce. l
have learned that there are COMPARE
lively few sorts that are of value to
the growers in the south for the north
ern market. The catalogues of the
seedsmen come annually with the best
Of lettuces, and claim that they are 60
ing to supersede all others. But n
after another we have tried them, much
our personal loss, for our expert
mentS were made at Jul wv cost, and
We hoped to get something out Of the
We have found, however, that
Tor early heading in the fall, and for
and early spring heading in the
frames, there are no varieties equal to
he two we have named. But when it
comes to setting plants in the field late
the fall to head outside in the spring,
.hese varieties will be failures and 9TH
IT sorts that do not compare with these
n the frames are better.
The two varieties named are more
jender and are apt to get injured or
by severe weather, and even
when they do survive the winter they
Jolt and run to seed in the spring with
,ut heading firmly enough for shipping.
But fortunately we have varieties that
re especially adapted to the needs Of
he fall planter for spring heading. The
,est of these is the variety that has
)een bred up near Raleigh and there
Known as the Shellem. This variety is
Known in the catalogues as the Won
lerful. 1t is the largest and hardest
leading of all lettuces, but is of little
yalue for winter work in the frames.
But it is more hardy that the butter
7arieties. Similar to this is the Maule's
improved Hanson. This variety was
originally sent out by Col. George
Ianson, of Kent county, Mary
and, in whose family it has been grown
or generations. 1t is similar in ap-
earance to the Wonderful, but not
ute SO large, and it is rather too
rittle to make a good shipper. While
or the fall heading we would advise
be sowing of the Big Boston and Cali
orRia Cream Butter lettuce in August,
his will not do for the crop that is to
e wintered over in the open ground.
I advise thin broadcast sowing of all,
when sown in rows we are al
Ways apt to get the plants crowded,
1hile thin broadcasting, using plenty
f space, we get sturdy plants each
.rown by itself and better suited to