"The Kitchen Garden, 



CHAP. XXX. 

 Laftuca. Lattice. 



THere are fo many forts, and fo great diuerlitie of Lettice, that I doubt I (hall 

 fcarce be beleeued of a great many. For I doe in this Chapter reckon vp into 

 you eleauen or twelue differing forts ; fome of little vfe, others of more, be- 

 ing more common and vulgar ; and fome that are of excellent vfe and feruice, which 

 are more rare, and require more knowledge and care for the ordering of them, as alfo 

 for their time of fpending, as fome in the fpring, fome in fummer, others in au- 

 tumne, and fome being whited for the winter. For all thefe forts I (hall not neede ma- 

 ny defcriptions, but only mew you which doe cabbage, and which are loofe, which of 

 them are great or fmall, white, greene or red, and which of them beare white feeds, 

 and which of them blacke. And laftly I haue thought good to adde another Sallet 

 herbe, which becaufe it is called Lambes Lettice of many, or Corne Sallet of others, 

 is put in only to fill vp a number in this Chapter, and that I muft fpeake of it, and not 

 that I thinke it to be any of the kindes of Lettice. 



All forts of Lettice, after a while that they haue clofed themfelues, if they bee of 

 the Cabbage kindes, or otherwife being loofe, and neuer clofing, fend forth from a- 

 mong the middle of their leaues a round ftalke (in fome greater, in others lefler, accor- 

 ding to their kinde) full of leaues like vnto the lower, branching at the toppe into fun- 

 dry parts, whereon grow diuers fmall ftar-like flowers, of a pale yellowifh colour ; after 

 which come feede, eyther white or blackifh, as the plant yeeldeth, whereat hangeth 

 fome fmall peece of a cottony doune, wherewith the whole head is ftored, and is car- 

 ried away with the winde, if it be not gathered in time : the roote is fomewhat long 

 and white, with fome fibres at it, and perifheth quickely after the feede is ripe. 



The Romane red Lettice is the beft and greateft of all the reft. For lohn Tradef- 

 cante that firft, as I thinke, brought it into England, and fowed it, did write vnto mee, 

 that after one of them had been bound and whited, when the refufe was cut away, the 

 reft weighed feuenteene ounces : this hath blacke feede. 



The white Romane Lettice is like vnto it, hauing long leaues like a Teafell, it is in 

 goodnefle next vnto the red, but muft be whited, that it may eate kindly : the feede 

 hereof is white. 



The Virginia Lettice hath fingle and very broade reddifh leaues, and is not of any 

 great regard, and therefore is kept but of a few : it beareth blacke feede. 



The common Lumbard Lettice that is loofe, and another kinde thereof that doth 

 fomewhat cabbage, haue both white feedes. 



The Venice Lettice is an excellent Cabbage Lettice, and is beft to bee fowen after 

 Midfummer for lateward Lettice; they be fometimes as great as the crowne of a mans 

 hatt : the feede hereof is white, and groweth to be of a meane height. 



Our common Cabbage Lettice is well known, and beareth blacke feede. 



The curld Lettice which is open, and differeth but little from Endiue, beareth black 

 feede. 



Another fort of curld Lettice doth cabbage, and is called Flanders Cropers, or 

 Cropers of Bruges ; this groweth loweft, and hath the fmalleft head, but very hard and 

 round, and white while it groweth : the feed is blacke. 



A kinde of Romane Lettice is of a darke green colour, growing as low as the Venice 

 Lettice, and is an excellent kinde, bearing blacke feede. 



And laftly our winter Lettice is wonderfull hardy to endure our cold : It is but lin- 

 gle, and muft be fowen at Michaelmas, but will be very good, before any of the other 

 good forts fowen in the Spring, will be ready to be vfed, and beareth white feed. 



To inftrucl a nouice (for I teach not a Gardiner of knowledge) how to gather his 

 feede that it may be good, is in this manner : Let him marke out thofe plants that hee 

 meaneth mall run vp for feede, which muft be the moft likely ; & after they haue begun 

 to fhoote forth ftalkes, ftrip away the lower leaues, for two or three hands breadth a- 

 boue the ground, that thereby in taking away the loweft leaues, the ftalke doe not rot, 

 nor the feed be hindered in the ripening. 



There 



