The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-09
lettuce CULTURE:
IN OLD VIRGINIA
lContinued From Tirst rngcN

enough set out the last Of November
in rows twelve inches each way.
Some growers plant lettuce fiat. but
the writer has found by experience that
tho ridge method is the best. because
it secures better drainage. the soil
does not get as hard. and the plants
are much easier worked. and by tho
time your lettuce natures these ridges
are worked down almost fiat The
adoption OF tho ridge method in my
opinion should not DO overlooked; as
| consider this mode Of cultivation
one OF the important essentials to
successful crop.
Several Essentials.
Plants should not be forced in fall
and winter: they get too large: and
the new growth will be seriously eff.
fected by frost Soil must have hu-
mus. This Is another essential. If the
soil has not enough humus ii must be
supplied with good. we'll -rotted ma
nure. This supplies plant food, and at
the same time holds moisture. which
is so much needed in the spring, when
your lettuce commences to grow. ~
pound of humus will store seven and
one half times as much moisture as a
pound of sand" Your land does not
require as deep blowing for lettuce ms
1t does for corn Avoid turning up
clay
II have now plowed my lettuce land
three times. and It is thoroughly pull
verified ready for the ridge. which VIII
be worked up by the use of the Planet
.Ir. No. IT. l could not cultivate n
crop OF lettuce without this little
plow. Cover tho ground we'll with
stable manure before you throw up
your ridges for tho plants. setting out
your plants aS stated.
Use of Canvas.
ct is best not TO put on canvas
until your land has hcen rcplanted;
and if tho weather is warm keep the
canvas off as long as possible; can
vas put on too early will quicken the
growth: and that is what you do not
want In the fall Plants should be
kept dormant (sleeping) as much as
possible in winter.
about the last week in February or
the first week in March YOU must ap-
ply Peruvian guano substitute and
cottonseed meal between the rows at
the rate OF 1000 pounds to the acre.
This is done to push forward the new
growth towards the development OF
large heads. II takes moro manure
and commercial fertilizer to produce a
crop of good large heads than any
crop l have ever planted
II believe that most farmers fall I'm
making profitable lettuce crop he
cause they do not uso enough ammonia.
Use moro ammonia and loss potash
| You want largo growth. largo heads
Use all the manure YOU can. thereby
increasing the storage capacity OF your
soil to hold moisture. Plants uso an
enormous quantity OF water Work
! your plants as often in tho spring rs
possible, Keeping the ground loose
around the plants. Never work the
earth I'M to the nlants. as this has n
! tendency to make them 90 to seed.
Constant working invites growth and
/ keeps the plants moving, so to speak.
! II note that ono or your correspon-
! dents sometime ago in an article writ
ten for your paper said "it took from
! eight to ten thousand plants 10 set
an acre" This is theory. not prnc-
| ticc. rho writer expects 20 set out an
I acre containing 10000. rs it takes
/ 10000 TO 1890 40 set out an acre the
/ way We SIT them down IL Prince I'D
/ ward"