The Forrest City times., 1905-09-29
FARMER AND PLANTER.
FOR THE TRUCK FARMERS.
A Chapter On tine Fall. Winter and Spring Lettuce Crop on the
 southern Truck Farms.

The cultivation of lettuce in frames covered either with cloth or glass has developed into vast industry in the South Atlantic trucking sections. and the North Carolina station horticultur- ist has endeaYored to study not only methods but the varieties best adapted to the use Of the market gardeners at the different seasons. in this region. favored with mild winter climate, the growers are fast fearing that with a little protection they can produce as fine lettuce as can be grown in the northern hothouses. and the crop has become one 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? l want big, heavy headed variety that is a scod seller in the northern markets. Then l want 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 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 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 fali 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 sewn about the middle of August thinly broadcast, can be set ir wellmanured and fertilized soil and headed lefore the weather is cold enough to need the protection of the frames. and this crop. coming in in No- vembeF and early December, is usually {. very profitable once. since the cost of growing is far less where the frames are used.
 But cae thing is needed to be known by all lettuce growers This is tha.the plant is . very gross feeder and must be well 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 lettuce. nor will common fertilizers alone The slow nitriiieation of the or sanic matter supplied by the manure seems 10 be necessary. while the read fly soluble commercial fertilizer is also needed to push the growth. The most successful growers have found this out as well as the station investigators.
 For number of years I have been studying under numerous difficulties and With meager facilities the charae- i teristics of the varieties of lettuce. have learned that there are compara- i lively few sorts that are of value to ] the growers in the south fer the north ] ern market. The catalogues of the seedsmen come annually with the best i of lettuoes. and claim that they are go- ing to supersede all others. But one after another We have tried them, much l to our personal loss. for our experi- merts were made at our own cost, and We hoped ta get something out of the ] crops Ne have found. however, that for early heading P the fall, and for i winter and early spring heading in the frames, there are nc varieties equal to the two We have named Bat when il i comes 10 setting plants in the field late in the fall 10 head outside in the spring, these varieties will te failures and oth- ] CT sorts that do not compare with these in the frames are better.
 The two varieties named are more tender and are apt 10 get injured or killed by severe weather. and even when they dc survive the winter they l bolt and run 10 s ed in the spring with out heading firmly enough for shipping But fortunately We have varieties that az especially adapted to the needs of the fall planter for spring heading The i best of these is the variety that has been bred up near Raleigh and there known a. the Shallem This variety is known in the catalogues as the Won Ger.al l. is thA largest and hardest heading of al .ettuces. but is of little value fer winter work in the frames Bat it is more hardy that the butter varieties. similar 10 this is the Maules Improved Hansen This variety was originally sent out by Col. George Hanzoa, Of Kent county. Mary land in whose family t has been grown ! fer generations l. is similar in ap- Pearaa6e to the Wonderful. but not quite so large. and it is rather too brittle to make q goad shipper While for jhe fall heading We would advise tha sowing of fha Biz Boston and Cali tofnja Cream Butter lettuce in August, t'tis wiIl ger da for=tha crop that is to be Mia.esed over iii the open scouaI.
 adTlss fhln broadcast sowing Of all. be. aasa when soWn in rows We are al was apt ta eet the plants crowded. ~h-ie thin br9adeasting using plenty of space. Ee gst sturdy plants each