154 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



LETTUCE, PERENNIAL. Also given in Vilmorin- 

 Andrieux, "but the product of the plant is so trifling 

 that it is hardly worth cultivating." It resembles the 

 dandelion in growth, and is chiefly used where it grows 

 wild, in the south of Europe and elsewhere. 



LOVACHE or LOVAGE (Levistkum officinale) is a 

 plant now little cultivated, but formerly grown for its 

 stems and leaf-stalks, which were used as a pot-herb, or 

 blanched and eaten like celery. The stems and stalks 

 may be candied like angelica. The plant is a hardy 

 perennial, and when once established will yield for 

 several years. It is propagated from seed, but more 

 satisfactorily from root-divisions. 



Soil. Any good garden soil. Enrich well with 

 manure if the plantation is to last for some time. 



Depth of seed, one inch ; of root-divisions, as before. 



Sow seeds as soon as they ripen, in midsummer, in 

 seed-bed, rows one foot apart; thin to six inches. 



Transplant the following spring to two feet by 

 eighteen inches. 



Set root-divisions in spring at the same distances. 



Earth-up like celery, in the fall. 



Gather. For greens, pick the leaves as wanted when 

 the plant is well established. Cut the stalks when 

 blanched. Do not use the plants for both purposes in 

 the same year. 



Renew or root-prune every three or four years. 



