LACTUCA 



480 



L^LIA 



L. macrorhfza (large-rooted). 2-3. Violet. July, 

 August. Himalaya. 1846. Perennial. 



pere'nnis (perennial). 2. Pale blue. July to Sep- 

 tember. S. Europe. 1596. 



Plumie'ri (Plurnier's). 4-6. Purple or blue. July to 

 September. France. 1804. Perennial. 



racemo'sa (racemed). Armenia. 



sati'va (cultivated). See L. SCARIOLA. " Cultivated 

 Lettuce." 



Scari'ola (Scariola). 2-4. Yellow. June. Europe ; 

 Orient. 1562. Annual. " Prickly Lettuce." 



sibi'rica (Siberian). 2. Blue. August. Siberia. 1794. 



tata'rica (Tartarian). 4. Blue. August. Siberia. 

 1784. 



tubero'sa (tuberous). 2. Blue-purple. Asia Minor ; 

 Persia. Perennial. 



villo'sa (villous). See L. ACUMINATA. 



Varieties. There are the Cos and the Cabbage ; the 

 first more grown in summer than in winter ; the second 

 at all seasons, but more usually in winter, on account of 

 their superior hardihood. The Cilicias are of a nature 

 intermediate between the two. When young, the 

 Cabbage varieties are, in general, sweeter than those of 

 the Cos at the same age ; but of a full growth this is 

 reversed. Hence the latter are preferred for salads, and 

 the former for soups. The Cabbage varieties succeed 

 better in a hotbed than the Cos. 



Cos Varieties. Alexandra White, Bath Black-seeded, 

 Giant White, Hick's Hardy White, Sugarloaf, Black- 

 seeded Green, Spotted, or Leopard, Early Egyptian, 

 Green and Brown Cilicia, Green, Lop, White, or Versailles, 

 White Paris Cove, the finest summer kind ; Green Paris 

 Cove, rather hardier ; Bath Cos, and Brown Cos. 



Cabbage Varieties. All the Year Round, Continuity, 

 Early Paris Market, Hardy Hammersmith, Tom Thumb, 

 Winter Beauty, Wonderful, Drum-headed, Princes, Brown 

 Dutch and Common White Dutch, both good for winter ; 

 Tennis Ball, or Button, good for winter ; Large White, 

 Hardy Green, or Capuchin, good for winter ; Imperial 

 Grand Admirable, Prussian, Large Roman, Malta, for 

 summer ; Neapolitan, for summer. 



Soil. Lettuces thrive best in a light, very rich soil, 

 with a dry substratum. For the first and last crops of 

 the year a warm, sheltered situation is required ; but 

 for the Midsummer ones, a border that is shaded during 

 midday. 



Sowing. The first sowing in a frame on a warm border, 

 or shallow hotbed, at the close of January, or early in 

 February ; at the close of this last month a larger one 

 in any open situation, and smaller repeated once every 

 three weeks, until the end of July, for summer and 

 autumn use, to be continued at similar intervals until 

 the close of September, for winter and early spring. 

 Sow moderately thin, each variety separate. 



Pricking out. When the plants are about a month 

 old, or two inches in height, thin them to three or four 

 inches apart, and prick out those removed at similar 

 distances. Those from the sowings in January and 

 February in frames, and thence until August, in any 

 open situation. Those of the August sowing must be 

 divided into two portions ; the largest being selected 

 and planted in an open compartment for late autumn 

 use, and the smaller on a warm border for winter and early 

 spring. 



Plant out, finally, in rows a foot apart each way. At 

 the time of every removal, whether of pricking out or 

 planting, water must be given moderately, and until the 

 plants are rooted. It may be remarked, that transplanted 

 lettuces never attain so fine a growth as those left where 

 sown, nor become so soon fit for use ; those which are 

 planted out at once to remain being better in these 

 respects than those pricked out previous to final planting. 

 The varying in their time of becoming fit for \ise, however, 

 is of advantage, as by these means a more perfect suc- 

 cession is obtained. Those which are planted to with- 

 stand the winter, which they easily do if sheltered with 

 hoops and matting during severe weather, and continue 

 in a fit state for use, are best planted on ridges, as a pro- 

 tection from excessive wet, from which they always suffer. 

 In every stage of growth they must be kept well watered, 

 and the earth around them frequently stirred, for the 

 extirpation of slugs and snails. No vegetable is more 

 benefited than the lettuce by the application, occasion- 

 ally, of liquid-manure. To check the Cos plants running 

 to seed before the heart is perfectly blanched, it is a 



good pactice, at the time of tying them up, to cut out 

 the centre bud of each with a sharp knife. 



Frame Crops. The plants raised from the September 

 sowing may be divided as directed for those of August ; 

 but, in addition, some of the Cos varieties may be planted 

 on a warm border, to have the shelter of frames and hand- 

 glasses. Some of the strongest of these may, in succes- 

 sion during November, December, and January, be 

 planted in a moderate hotbed, being removed with as 

 little injury as possible to the roots, to bring them 

 forward for immediate use. Whilst in frames they re- 

 quire much attention. Being watered and shaded until 

 established, they must afterwards have as much light 

 and air admitted as possible, as well as a regular supply 

 of moisture. 



At night the additional shelter of matting, and in 

 severe weather an increased covering, must be afforded. 

 The day temperature should never exceed 80, nor fall 

 below 65. The plants may be set in rows about six 

 inches apart ; but of those which are merely sheltering 

 during the winter, on the return of mild weather, at the 

 beginning of March or April, every second one must be 

 carefully removed, and planted in a warm border at the 

 usual open-ground distance. 



To obtain Seed. Some of the finest and most perfect 

 plants of each variety that have survived the winter, or 

 from the forwardest sowing of the year, should be 

 selected. The seed from any that have run up pre- 

 maturely cannot be depended upon. If two varieties 

 flower near each other, only mongrel varieties will be 

 obtained. Each stem is to be tied to a stake as a support 

 against tempestuous weather. The branches must be 

 gathered as the seed ripens upon them. It must be 

 thoroughly dried before it is stored. 



LADY-BIRD. Coccine'lla. 



LADY'S FERN. La'strea TTiely'pteris. 



LADY'S LACES. Aru'ndo. 



LADY'S MANTLE. Ahhemi'lla. 



LADY'S SLIPPER. Cypriptt dium. 



LADY'S SMOCK. Cardami'ne. 



LADY'S TRESSES. Neo'ttia spira'lis and Spira'ntJies. 



LHZUA. (Lcdia was a Vestal virgin ; alluding to the 

 delicacy of the flower. Nat. ord. Orchids [Orchidaceas]. 

 Linn. zo-Gynandria, i-Monandria. Allied to Epidendrum.) 

 Stove orchids. Divisions ; turfy peat, chopped old 

 moss, and charcoal, raised above the surface of a pot, 

 filled with drainage, or a block of wood firmly laid across. 

 Treatment similar to Cattleya. 

 L. acumina'ta (pointed-lipped). See L. RUBESCENS. 

 ,, a'lbida (whitish). Yellowish-white. Oaxaca. 1838. 

 be'lla (pretty). Milk-white, lilac-pink, rose- 

 purple. Mexico. 



,, bru'nnea (brown). Brown-purple. Mexico. 1868. 

 ,, ,, ochra'cea (ochre-coloured). Brownish-ochre, 



purple. Mexico. 1868. 



,, ,, rd sea (rosy). White, rose-purple. Mexico. 1869. 

 ,, sto6ar/j'na(Stobartian). Purple; lip deep purple. 



1877. 

 sulphutrea (sulphur). Sulphur, purple marks. 



1884. 



,, Tucke'ri (Tucker's). Purple. Mexico. 1868. 

 a'nceps (two-edged). i. Rose, purple. November, 



December. Mexico. 

 a'lba (white). White, with yellow disc. Mexico. 



1879. 

 ama'bilis (lovely). White; lip yellow, lined 



purple. 1889. 

 amesia'na (Amesian). White ; petals feathered 



crimson at tips ; lip violet-crimson. 1888. 

 ,, ,, ashworthia'na (Ashworthian). Snow-white ; lip 



with bluish veins. 1894. 

 ,, ,, barkeria'na (Barkerian). Purple. December. 



Mexico. 1833. 

 ,, ,, bla'nda (mild). Sepals white; petals rosy; lip 



warm purple at apex. 1885. 

 ,, ,, calvertia'na (Calvertian). White ; front lobe of 



lip red-purple. 1883. 



s , chamber lainia'na (Chamber lainian). Front lobe 

 velvety purple. 



