The Culture of Vegetables 



These to be followed by Superb White Cos and others of that class, 

 with Standwell to come in finally. 



The Lettuce requires a light, rich soil, but almost any kind of soil 

 may be so prepared as to insure a fair supply, and in places where 

 fine Cos Lettuces are not readily obtained, it may be possible to 

 grow excellent Cabbage varieties in place of them. A tolerably good 

 garden soil will answer for both classes, and fat stable manure should 

 be liberally used. The best way to prepare ground for the summer 

 crop is to select a piece that has been trenched, and go over it again, 

 laying in a good body of rough green manure, one spade deep, so 

 that the plant will be put on unmanured ground, but will reach the 

 manure at the very period when it is needed, and by which time 

 contact with the earth will have rendered it sweet and mellow. By 

 this mode of procedure the finest growth is secured, and the plants 

 stand well without bolting, as they are saved from the distress con- 

 sequent on continued dry weather. As regards drought, it must be 

 said that the red-leaved kinds stand remarkably well in a hot summer, 

 and although they do not rank high as table Lettuces in this country, 

 were we to be regularly favoured with roasting summers they would 

 rise in repute and be in great demand. Cabbage Lettuces bear 

 drought fairly well, more especially the diminutive section; but 

 where water is available in a dry, hot season, the Lettuces have as 

 good a claim to a share of it as any crop in the garden. To com- 

 plete this paragraph, it will be proper to say a few words on the 

 subject of blanching. A first-class strain of White Cos Lettuce will 

 produce tender white hearts without being tied, and, as a rule, there- 

 fore, the labour of tying may be saved. The section of which 

 Sutton's Superb White Cos is the type may be said to produce better 

 samples without tying than with this imaginary aid in the finishing. 

 The market grower is still accustomed to tie Lettuces because they 

 are more easily packed and travel better when tied, and also 

 because it is sometimes difficult to sell them unless a rope is tied 

 around each to prove that it is a Lettuce. Hence, if tying is prac- 

 tised to please all parties, it need not be done until one or two days 

 before the Lettuces are cut. The coarser market kinds certainly are 

 improved by tying, and in this case the operation must be performed 

 when the plants are quite dry, and not more than ten days in 

 advance of the day on which it is intended to pull them. The Bath 

 Cos must be tied always, and when well managed the heart is white, 

 with a pretty touch of pink in the centre. 



Spring-sown Lettuces may be forwarded under glass from 



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