150 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



have been re-made by adding about one-third of fresh 

 manure to the old. 



About the middle of February the old beds are 

 sometimes re-made with a little fresh manure for the 

 third crop. If, however the plants appear to stand 

 still the frames must be " lined " or " banked up '' 

 with hot manure, no matter what the period of the 

 year may be. Of course the mats are taken off the 

 lights and cloches every morning as early as possible 

 to admit light to the plants. It is well, however, 

 before uncovering altogether to make sure that the 

 plants have not been frosted. If they have, instead 

 of taking off the mats, others are added so that the 

 thawing may take place as slowly as possible. By 

 this means injury to the plants is avoided. 



In December, many growers, instead of making 

 up special beds for Lettuces, plant the " Crepe " variety 

 on top of the Carrots which have been sown, and they 

 are ready about fifty days after- 

 wards that is, some time in 

 January. 



If the frost increases in seve- 

 rity, the frames are kept warm 

 by filling the pathways with hot 

 manure up to the top of the 



FIG. 39. SHOWING HOW . . 



ONE Cos (IN THE GEN- hghts, and it may be necessary 

 TRE) AND 4 CABBAGE to have a double covering of 



LETTUCES AREPLANTED , . ,1 . , , 



UNDER A CLOCHE. mats during the night. 



The last crop of " Crepe " 



Lettuce is planted in January or February according 

 to the weather. A hot-bed 12 to 14 in. thick is pre- 

 pared. The surface is covered with a layer about 4 in. 

 thick of nice gritty mould, and then the cloches are 



