14 Hints on Vegetable and Fruit Farming. 



sprouts or tiny cabbages upon a long stalk ; successions of these 

 follow on the same plant throughout the winter and the spring ; 

 when the summer comes thej go to seed. They are remarkably 

 hardy and bear the coldest winters. No farm garden, nor any 

 other garden, should be without these. They may be cultivated 

 with advantage by market-garden farmers, and are largely 

 grown in market-gardens near London. The plants are picked 

 out in April in rows 22 inches apart and 18 inches from plant 

 to plant. ,It is said that the English-grown seed is not to be 

 relied on, and that the only neighbourhood where the seed is to 

 be depended on is Brussels. 



Lettuces may be deemed as hardly being vegetables for 

 growth upon a large scale ; but this crop sometimes makes a deal 

 of money, without being very expensive to cultivate, and if vege- 

 table-growing is seriously undertaken, no kind should be beneath 

 consideration. They may be specially grown in the garden of 

 the farm, in beds in the warm corner of many old farmhouses, 

 or protected by hand-glasses ; for English lettuces, fresh and 

 firm, make long prices in the early spring-time, in spite of the 

 competition of French market-gardens. The great object is to 

 get lettuces very early in the spring, and for this, of course, the 

 plants have to stand the ordeal of the winter. Lettuces require 

 a fairly good soil. Cos lettuces, or the crisp, juicy varieties, 

 with erect leaves, which the English prefer, do best upon loam, 

 or loamy clay-land, or even upon well-farmed, stiff clay. Cabbage 

 lettuces, or those more resembling cabbages in shape, of which 

 the best sorts are the Dutch, Asiatic, Hammersmith, Imperial 

 Ice, which never bolts or runs to seed, will thrive upon sandy 

 or chalky soils, if properly cultivated and well manured. The 

 best sorts to stand the winter are the Bath Cos, Hammersmith, 

 Silician, or Paris Cos. The seed should be sown about the 

 first week in August broadcast, upon a well-prepared bed. 

 About half a pound of seed is sufficient to furnish plants enough 

 for an acre. Unless the winter is very severe, these will be 

 ready in May, and almost invariably make long prices. It 

 would answer well to shake a little rough litter over them during 

 the worst winter months. Enterprising men might invest in 

 bell-glasses, which would ensure the preservation of the plants, 

 and very early readiness for market. Lettuces for summer use are 

 transplanted from frames or seed-beds in May, June, and July, 

 with due regard to the succession of sorts and supply. Lettuces 

 imported from France from January to June, make from 9</. to 

 I5. 'Id. per dozen. English lettuces coming to market in the 

 latter part of May, make from 8^. to \s. Sd. per score, and an 

 average crop is about 1400 score per acre. Autumn-sown 

 lettuces may follow onions, or late cabbages that have been 



