CHAi'. XXIII VILLA GAKDENING 485 



CHAPTER XXIII 



SALAD PLANTS 



The Lettuce. — A poorly-grown Lettuce, no matter how mani- 

 pulated, does not make a good salad, for its thin leathery leaves 

 cannot have the crispuess and succulency of the plant grown on 

 deep rich soil. Very good Lettuces are generally obtained from 

 the crowns of the ridges between the rows of Celery. They are 

 l)lanted one row on each ridge, 13 inches apart for the large kinds, 

 and 10 inches for the small Cabbage varieties such as Tom 

 Thumb. The land for Lettuce should be loose and friable, for 

 unless grown quickly they are likely to be tough and bitter; 

 therefore, no matter where planted or sown, the land should have 

 been recently stirred either by fork or spade, and the manure 

 must not l3e stinted. West or north borders may with 

 advantage be used for Lettuces during hot weather in summer ; 

 and some at least of the plants should remain where sown without 

 transplanting, as the fewer checks given dming the last half of 

 June and the whole of July the better. In planting Lettuces 

 lay a board across the bed or border for the planter to walk 

 upon. I generally transplant a few of the thinnings even in the 

 hottest weather — for I keep a cool border in reserve for such 

 work, and by watering it well the evening before, and shading 

 the plants with a few branches immediately after planting, they 

 start away directly and grow very fast. Quick growth in siunmer 

 is essential to crispness. 



To Obtain a Succession frequent sowings are necessary from 

 March till the middle of July. As soon as the last-sown plants 

 are fairly up sow again ; the amount of space to be occupied will 

 be in proportion to the demand likely to arise, and a liberal 

 allowance should be made. The seeds are very often sown 

 broadcast ; but I prefer to sow in drills, as it is so easy to stir 

 and clean the surface -soil when the plants are in rows. The 

 seeds are small, and the drills need not be more than half an 

 inch deep ; a well pulverised soil is necessary. Where the soil 

 is heavy and steely when dry, some leaf-mould worked into the 

 surface with the rake just before the seeds are sown will be a 

 great help ; and as it is important that the successional sowings 

 should be made in due order, the seedbed should in dry weather 

 be thoroughly soaked three or foiu- hours before sowing the seeds. 



