LETTUCE 69 



thinnings may be put out on warm borders at six inches, and, if 

 quite convenient, a crop should be left in the seed-bed at six inches. 

 From the frames, the supplies will be ready in time to follow those 

 from late summer sowings, and thus through the winter until the 

 frames are cleared out for the work of the spring. The frame crop 

 must have plenty of air, and be kept as hardy as possible, but with 

 moisture enough to sustain a steady healthy growth. If roughly 

 handled in the planting, or a little starved in respect of moisture, the 

 plants will rise from the centre just when they ought to begin to turn 

 in, and the first few days of warm sunshine will start them in the 

 wrong way. As to those wintered out, there are many ways of pro- 

 tecting them, and when success has crowned the effort there will be 

 a crowded plant. It will be necessary, therefore, to transplant at 

 least half the crop by lifting every other one. This must be done 

 with care, as though they were worth a guinea each. By transplant- 

 ing early in March to a piece of rich light ground in a warm spot, and 

 doing the work neatly and smartly, the result will be a valuable crop 

 of early Summer Lettuce, while those that remain will help through 

 the spring. 



Lettuces do not force well ; but as they are so constantly in 

 demand, it is a matter of importance to grow them in every possible 

 way. Nice promising plants from August and September sowings may 

 be selected from the frames, and planted on gentle hot-beds from 

 November to January, and will do well if tenderly lifted. The 

 Commodore Nutt and Dwarf Brown Forcing are the best of the 

 Cabbage varieties for forcing ; the Hammersmith is not worth the 

 trouble. The Cos varieties do not differ much as to forcing, none of 

 them being well adapted for the purpose ; but the Superb White and 

 Green Cos may be brought to fine condition by taking time enough, 

 so as to make a very moderate warmth suffice. On sunny days the 

 heat should not exceed 75 ; but 65 is sufficient, with a night tem- 

 perature of 45 to 50. 



MAIZE (See INDIAN CORN, page 62) 



MELON 



(Cucumis Melo] 



THE MELON has advanced in public favour considerably of late 

 years, the consequence in part of the spread of knowledge as to the 



