90 KITCHEN-GARDENING. 



will grow well in a warm border, which at this season is use- 

 less for many kinds of vegetables. After the plants have taken 

 root, they should be frequently hoed, and kept free from 

 weeds. 



Those who wish to have Leeks blanched, may plant them 

 in trenches three or four inches deep, and as the plants in- 

 crease in growth, the earth should be drawn by a hoe into the 

 trenches. 



LETTUCE. 



LAITUE. Lactuca sativa crispa. 



It would be easy to furnish a more extensive catalogue of 

 Lettuce, as the varieties are numerous ; but as this is one of 

 those kinds of vegetables that can only be raised in perfection 

 during mild and temperate weather, it is needless for the gar- 

 dener to plant any in the open ground but such as have been 

 tested, and found to stand a tolerable degree of warm weather, 

 which generally prevails in May and June, and consequently 

 cuts short the salad season. Those who have been accustomed 

 to raise head Lettuce in any quantity, know the trouble of pre- 

 paring the ground and planting, and the loss they would sus- 

 tain if several thousand plants should run to seed just as they 

 appeared to be perfecting for market. As this is often the 

 case, even with the very best attention, I would caution gar- 

 deners to test such plants as they are not acquainted with, before 

 they set out any quantity with a view to their heading. 



Lettuce seed of most varieties may be sown from the 

 first to the middle of September, in rich ground free from 

 weeds ; they answer very well when sown with Spinach, and 

 should be covered with straw at the approach of severe weather. 

 These plants, if transplanted into warm borders, or in the 

 open ground, as early in March as the weather will permit, 

 will produce fine heads early in the month of May. 



