124 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [FEB. 



tremely careful to give them as much air and light at every oppor- 

 tunity as possiblej consistent with their safety. 



Spinach. 



Sow some prickly-seeded spinach, it being the hardiest kind, 

 about the latter end of the month ; let some dry warm ground be 

 prepared for this purpose, and sow the seed thereon thin and regu- 

 lar, either broad-cast and raked in, or in drills a foot asunder, or on 

 four feet wide beds ; being careful that, in either case, the seed be 

 not covered more than from an inch, to half an inch deep, accord- 

 ing to the lightness or stiffness of the ground. 



The smooth-seeded round leaved kind, is the best to sow during 

 the remainder of the spring and early summer months ; but, for 

 this early sowing, the prickly seeded being more hardy, is pre- 

 ferable. 



07^ I am well aware, that in the far greater part of the eastern 

 states, the ground is generally, during the whole of this month, and 

 a considerable part of March, so bound up with frost, as not to be 

 dug or cultivated ; but this not being the case in the middle states, 

 except in very severe seasons, and not at ail in the southern states, 

 I am induced to give these directions for the sowing of early crops, 

 and where the state of the weather permits, they may be practiced 

 to advantage, and where not, the business must be deferred a little 

 longer. 



Sowing Lettuce Seed. 



If the weather be mild, and the ground in good condition, you 

 may, about the latter end of this month, sow some lettuce seed on 

 a south border, which ought to be well defended by a wall, hedge, 

 or board, fence, &c. The kinds most suitable to be sown at this 

 time, are the early curled, and common cabbage lettuces, if in- 

 tended to be cut up for small sallading ; in which case, they aretobe 

 sown very thick on the surface, after the ground having been raked 

 tolerably well, and then raked in ; or they may be sown in beds, or 

 drills according to fancy ; observing, that these seeds require but a 

 very slight covering. 



You may also sow any other kinds of lettuce, such as the white, 

 or green cos, Egyptian and spotted cos, which are excellent kinds ; 

 or if for cabbaging or heading, you may sow the white Silicia, grand 

 admiral, large mogul, brown Dutch, or New-Zealand lettuces, all of 

 which form good hard heads ; for this purpose, they must be sown 

 very thin, and when arrived at a due size, be transplanted in rows 

 into the different borders, Sec. as directed in March ; leaving a suf- 

 ficient quantity to occupy the seed-bed, which will head earlier than 

 those that shall have been transplanted. 



If those be covered in nights and in very unfavourable weather, 

 either with mats or boards, &c. it will greatly forward their growth. 

 But in order to have a few in a more advanced state for trans- 

 planting, and also for early small sallading ; you may sow any of the 

 above kinds in a hot-bed, those for the latter purpose very thick,and 



