282 THE FLOKAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



ground in a friable condition, and the seed but lightly covered, 

 shaded during dry weather till the seedlings appear, and then be 

 kept well watered if the weather is hot and dry. To be on the safe 

 side, it will be a good plan to sow again the middle of this month ; 

 for this season, so far as it lias gone, has been such a forcing one, 

 that to give precise rules for sowing seeds is a difficult matter; there- 

 fore, as I am not able to foretel the future, I have given this hint, 

 which for all I know may be a very useful one. If the plants have 

 been well used in the seed-beds, they will be fit to go out in six or 

 seven weeks from the time of sowing. They must have a richly- 

 manured border under a south or west wall, and be planted out 

 eighteen inches apart. They must first be carefully lifted Avith a 

 trowel from the bed, and planted out during dull or cloudy weather, 

 for these are plants which feel the effects of a renioval very much. 

 Por shading these, as well as many other such plants, put six or eight 

 inch flower-pots over them during the few first bright days, if such 

 should occur after planting. A sharp look-out must be kept for 

 slugs, and a sprinkle of soot and lime put round each plant if they 

 are troublesome. A quick growth should be encouraged by frequent 

 stirrings of the soil. When they are large enough for use, there 

 are a variety of ways to bleach them. One very simple way is to 

 tie them up exactly as lettuces are done ; another old-tat»hioned plan 

 is to lay a piece of common tile or slate over them, while others 

 invert a pot over them ; but whatever plan is adopted, it must be 

 borne in mind that it must be done when the plants are ciuite dry ; 

 it will take at least ten days or a fortnight to bleach them well. 

 What I have already said applies chiefly to securing a stock for the 

 ordinary consumption of autumn, and for taking up and stowing 

 away for winter. This stowing will receive due attention presently. 

 Por what I may call a chance crop, another planting of the last 

 sowing may be put out under the foot of a south wall ; this plan is 

 sometimes of great service where there is no room to house them 

 for winter, as very nice little hearts are to be had if the end of the 

 year is not too severe, but of course not equal to those that have 

 been taken under glass. A few dry leaves scattered amongst the 

 plants will give them some protection against frost ; it is ^ safe 

 practice to put out a few plants every fortnight up till the end of 

 September. 



Lettuce is another indispensable subject for winter salads, but 

 it requires some amount of care and trouble to get them a suitable 

 size for winter preservation, for so much depends upon the character 

 of the autumn that it is not an easy matter to say exactly when to 

 sow for this purpose. I prefer to sow about the 25th of July, and 

 again about the middle of August. One or other of these sowings 

 cannot fail to secure the desired sized plants ; but should a mild 

 autumn follow, it is just possible that the July plants will get too 

 large, and in that case the later sowing will be just right. For this 

 winter work I have never found any other sort equal to the Hardy 

 Hammersniith, as when well kept it has such a beautiful fresh green 

 appearance, which is very essential in a salad at any season of the 

 year. The cultural directions which I have given above for endive 



