SUMMER LETTUCES 165 



cloches or frames. When large enough about twenty 

 young plants may be put under each light, or ten Cos 

 Lettuces and ten Cabbage Lettuces may be planted 

 alternately in the same space. When established, air 

 must be given freely during genial weather, and 

 attention must be paid to watering, so as to keep the 

 plants tender and growing. 



Every second or third week from March until 

 August, seeds may be sown in the open air on nicely 

 prepared soil. The, seedlings are pricked out and 

 transplanted in due course. The chief cultural details 

 during the summer months consist of frequent hoeings 

 between the plants and a plentiful supply of water. 

 If the plants are allowed to suffer from drought they 

 are almost sure to " bolt " i.e. run to seed during the 

 summer months. They should therefore be copiously 

 watered every day except when it rains heavily. 



It is as well, however, to mention that watering is 

 best done during the warm weather either in the 

 morning or in the evening, as the wetting of plants 

 exposed to the sun scorches the leaves and spoils 

 their appearance. 



For summer and autumn Lettuces the secret of 

 success appears to be sow the seeds thinly ; keep the 

 young plants growing and tender by copious waterings ; 

 and plant out as early as possible after the first true 

 leaves form after the cotyledons or seed-leaves. Other 

 varieties as well as those mentioned may of course 

 be sown for summer and autumn crops. 



Tying Cos Lettuces. Although many varieties of 

 Cos Lettuce hardly require tying at all, it generally 

 pays to perform the operation, whether the plants are 

 grown under cloches, frames, or in the open. It 



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