230 THE FLOEAL WORLD A^^D GAEDEN GUIDE. 



manured for the last crop, Brown Silician and Hammersmitli. In 

 the course of a fortnight make up a piece of extra ricli soil elevated 

 a foot above the level, and prick out the strongest plants of Bath 

 Cos upon it, a foot apart every way, and keep them shaded and 

 watered till they make a start, when remove all shading, and encou- 

 rage them to grow with the help of liquid manure. If old frames 

 are plentiful, make up a few reserve beds in them above the general 

 level of the ground, and into these beds plant the weakest plants 

 from the seed-bed, six inches apart. These frames will serve a two- 

 fold purpose. As soon as the plants are strong, remove every other 

 one to a sloping bed under a warm wall, where shade and water, 

 and let the others remain. The strongest plants will come into 

 use during October, when we shall suppose the whole batch will be 

 consumed. Those under the wall will succeed them ; and if a 

 smart frost should occur early in November, they may escape it 

 through being high and dry ; and if frost and wet destroy them 

 altogether, the reserve stock in the frames will keep up the supply 

 till Christmas, as any covering that will exclude frost and wet will 

 suffice to protect them ; and if they are kept in darkness two or 

 three days together, they will take no harm. In a mild season this 

 plan will carry the supply — supposing the breadth sown to be 

 sufficient — far into January ; and it must be remembered that 

 lettuces are always esteemed, and are as elegant on the table as 

 they are refreshing to the palate. 



On the 25th of July, and again about the 10th of August, sow 

 Hammersmith, Brown Silician, and Brown Dutch. These are all 

 hardy kinds, and it is safer to sow a pinch of each than three times 

 the quantity of any one, as if the winter should be severe there is a 

 better chance of saving a few for spring use. On a good holding 

 loam, without recent manure, if the beds are raised a trifle above 

 the level, there will be a reasonable chance of these surviving the 

 winter, and proving eminently serviceable for spring salads. At the 

 final planting they should be ten inches apart every way, and instead 

 of hastening growth by liquid manure, they should have only just 

 so much help after planting as will enable them to take root safely. 

 Keep the ground clear of weeds, but use the hoe as little as possible, 

 so that the surface may become hard and firm. 



It must be remembered that winter and spring lettuces are 

 valuable, and where grown for market will always pay for glass. If 

 a supply during winter and early spring is a matter of some im- 

 portance, all the spare frames and lights should be got ready at the 

 end of October, filled with light sandy earth, the plants taken up 

 carefully with good balls, and planted nine inches apart in these 

 protective beds. Water them in, keep the lights off as- long as 

 possible, and when the plants in the frames must be consumed at 

 last, tie a few every week to blanch, and keep them dry during 

 severe weather, and they will pay for the care and the space they 

 have had. Now that orchard houses and ground vineries are in 

 use almost everywhere, these may be made to pay their cost in 

 keeping up a stock of saladings for winter. Grow the plants in 

 open beds, and at the end of October or early in November trans- 



