142 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



kept very straight by crowding. When the stems 

 are about as thick as an ordinary slate-pencil they 

 should be lifted carefully, and the best selected for 

 transplanting, after the roots and tops have been 

 cut as described for Onions (see p. 186). The seeds 

 sown in September should be sown thinly in drills, 

 and as the weather is generally unfavourable, the 

 Leeks are allowed to develop to the required size in 

 the seed-beds. 



An excellent way to secure nice Leeks from the 

 earlier sowings is to select a piece of ground that 

 has been deeply dug or trenched, and heavily manured 

 the previous season. Drills about 2 in. deep and i ft. 

 apart are drawn running north and south if possible. 

 In these drills the best Leeks are planted deeply 

 and 6 in. apart, after the tips of the roots and tops 

 have been cut off. After planting, the soil is given 

 a good watering, and when the Leeks are in full 

 growth afterwards, attention must be given to watering 

 when necessary. Indeed, weak liquid manure from 

 the stables or cow-sheds, or made from guano and 

 soot, etc., given two or three times a week will keep 

 the plants in an active state o ; * growth until they are 

 required for use. 



LETTUCES 



As a salad, perhaps, there is no other plant equal 

 in importance and popularity to the Lettuce (Lactuca 

 saliva). It is quite as popular in the British Islands 

 as on the Continent, and it is not too much to say 

 that millions of plants are grown in market-gardens 



