484 THE PARKS AND GARDENS OF PARIS. [Chap. XXYIII. 



in three ranks. The bed for them may be made wide enough for 

 six (three lines on each side of a narrow alley), or for three only. 

 In this January or February planting, four plants of Petite Noire 

 are planted under each cloche, and one Cos in the middle. The 

 tender Petites Noires are gathered in February and March ; the 

 Cos remains a little later, nearly filling up the glass and forming 

 one of those superb Lettuces to be seen in all our great towns 

 in early spring, and which are usually supposed to come from 

 some paradisaical climate, instead of the ungenial winter-climate 

 of Paris. Certainly the climate that would produce them without 

 protection at the period spoken of should be mild indeed. 



Lettuce Yerte MaraIchere. — This Lettuce is sown about the 

 first fortnight in October in the open air, or on a sloping bed under 

 a cloche. It is pricked out, and twenty or thirty are generally 

 placed under one glass, which is taken off every time the weather 

 permits. As it often happens that, in spite of the care taken 

 with it, this Lettuce will grow too tall, it is generally taken up, 

 and transplanted some time in November. For this purpose a 

 new sloping bed is prepared and the plants are pricked into it 

 immediately, only eighteen or twenty being put under each glass. 

 From this moment they receive the same care as the other 

 Lettuces sown at the same time. Towards the end of December 

 or the beginning of January planting in frames and under cloches 

 is begun. In each frame eight roAvs are placed, each consisting 

 of twenty-five plants, so arranged that there is a Petite Noire 

 and a Cos Lettuce alternately. Under the cloches they are 

 arranged so that there are four of the former to one of the latter. 

 The Cos Lettuces thus grown may be gathered at the beginning 

 of February, after which the beds are planted a second time, 

 towards the end of February or the beginning of March ; that is 

 to say, when the severe cold is no longer to be dreaded, a single 

 plant is pricked out in the little spaces between the cloches. As 

 soon as the Cos and the Petite Noire Lettuces planted beneath the 

 bell-glass are gathered, the glass is used for the second crop. By 

 this method the crop may be gathered about three weeks after. 

 At the same time warm borders on the south side of walls are 

 also planted with Cos Lettuces. Ten or twelve rows are drawn, 

 according to the size of the border, and planted with Cos Lettuces 

 about twelve or fourteen inches apart. After this crop has been 



