T,li!Ti!g- 229 



LETTUCE. 



An important vegetable with the market gardener, and one 

 that is very acceptable in spring to every lover of salads. Those 

 ■who desire to supply it as early as possible, will sow seed of some 

 of the hardiest sorts, such as the Brown Dutch, or Hardy Green 

 Winter, about the middle of September, in a warm exposure and 

 in rich sod. In about a month later the plants will be ready for 

 the frames, into which they must be transplanted, and as the 

 weather becomes severe, protected with a sash, or in favorable 

 positions, with dry leaves. The plants are sufficienty hardy to 

 endure a cold of twenty degrees below the freezing point, and 

 consequently oidy require a slight protection. We believe that 

 in our climate, the north side of a building or high board fence 

 is much better than the south side, or any side where the sun 

 can shine directly upon the sash. A xmiform cold temperature, 

 provided the cold be not greater than that mentioned above, is less 

 likely to prove injurious to the plants than one that is frequently 

 changing under the action of the sun's rays. A frame thi-ee feet 

 by six will hold six himdred plants. As soon as the ground can be 

 worked in the spring, these plants shoidd be set out between the 

 rows of early Cabbage that have been wintered over in the same 

 manner, thus economizing the groimd, because the Lettuce will 

 be all fit for cutting and used before the ground will be occupied 

 by the Cabbage. Those who do not wish to take this trouble to 

 secure fine early Lettuce may sow the seed in a hot-bed, or in a 

 cold frame, or in the open air, according to the time when they 

 wish to use it, or the conveniences they may have for growing it. 

 If in the open air, a warm, sunny and well-sheltered spot is to be 

 chosen, where it is possible, and the sod made rich with weU- 

 decayed manure, and worked up loose and fine. We have 

 noticed that although the Cabbage Lettuces will often head weU, 

 if allowed sufficient room in the seed bed, they usually head more 

 uniformly if transplanted, and are in less haste to run up to 



