MONTHLY CALENDAR. 183 



apart, zigzag fashion ; but in wet soils it is better to drill them in, lay- 

 ing boards along the row to stand on, so as to avoid clodding the ground 

 by treading on it. The sort usually grown for first crop is the early 

 mazagan ; but the early long-pod is equally early and prolific, and larger ; so 

 is the prolific long-pod, for main crop. I find the monarch long-pod as good 

 as any. The green, and the hang-down long-pods are excellent beans. The 

 roj^al dwai'f is a good bearer, and of dwarfer habit. Whatever sort is gi'own, 

 the culture is the same, and as it is not a favovirite vegetable with many per- 

 sons, the young gardener should consider well how much ground can be de- 

 voted to it without encroaching upon the space required for more important 

 crops. A crop which is not required involves a loss of time, space, and 

 nourishment, withdrawn from the soil. 



445. Lettuces may be sown this month in a warm border under a south wall 

 or fence : they are better sown in a frame at this season, if one can be spared, or 

 even a hand-light is better than nothing. Wanting either, it is advisable to cover 

 the seed, when sown, with straw or light litter, taking it off sometimes to give 

 a dusting with lime, in case any slugs may be harboured ; the ground should 

 be well dug one spit deep, a dressing of manure being turned in, as this salad 

 requires a rich soil to grow it to advantage. This is a surface-crop, and a light 

 feeder ; consequentl}', by giving plenty of manure, we not onlj' insm'e good 

 lettuces, but prepare the ground for a grosser-feeding ci'op, sowing the seed 

 ■broadcast, and treading it in if on light soil. On wet ground, if apt to bind or 

 clod, this is not to be recommended ; but mark the ground into one or more 

 ■ beds, 4 feet wide, with alleys 15 inches in width between. Standing in the 



alleys, sow the seed, and press it in with the rake, or cover with some light 

 soil. Where a succession of lettuces is required throughout the year, it will 

 be necessary to sow ouce a month till March ; after that once a fortnight, or 

 every three weeks ; for although a crop may last a month in moist weathei', 

 they are soon over in the hot summer months, and it is as well to be provided 

 with plenty of young plants for succession. After August, once a month will 

 be often enough. Sow the seed thinly over a piece of ground sufficient to 

 grow a fortnight's supply ; when large enough to transj)lant, thin them out to 

 a foot apart, and plant the thinnings a foot apart on a piece the same size : 

 those left in the bed come in first, and the others are ready to succeed them. 

 In summer sow on a larger space, and let them grow where sown. Cos 

 lettuces require tying up to blanch and crisp them. To do this expeditiously, 

 provide a bundle of bast matting, cut to the required length, sling it round 

 the waist, and, gathering each plant up, pass the hand rapidly round it : in 

 this way a score or two may be tied in a few minutes. 



446. One of the most hardy sorts, and best for sowing at any time, is the 

 black-seeded Bath cos ; it is very crisp, and of good flavour : another good sort 

 is the Moor Park cos, and also the Paris white cos. Of the cabbage-lettuces, 

 one of the best, esiDecially for winter use, is the hardy Hammersmith ; but it 

 is apt to run in summer and autumn. The brown Dutch and tennis-ball 

 cabbage are both crood old varieties, and very hardy. The Malta, or drum- 



