LAC 



LAC 



iii-r.fc' be planted out into beds in tlic open 

 ground, drawing them Uj) carefully, and plant- 

 ing them immediately. This work should be 

 •performed by a line and small dibble, in rows, a 

 foot or more distant, with the same space from 

 plant to plant. The quincunx mode is ^nostly 

 adopted, which affords the most room, and at 

 the same time has the neatest appearance. As 

 soon as the planting is finished, the whole 

 should be well watered; and when the weather 

 is drv, repeated once or twice. 



By thus planting out the several sorts at dif- 

 ferent times, at the distance of three weeks or a 

 month, from the early spring till the latter end 

 of the autumn, due successions of good Let- 

 tuces may be provided. 



In the sunimer plantings out, when the wea- 

 ther proves very dry, it is sometimes the prac- 

 tice to plant them in small drills, in order to 

 preserve the moisture more effectually. 



After the beds of the diflerent principal sow- 

 inos have been considerably thinned by the 

 Several transplantations that have been made 

 I'rom them, the plants that remain may be set 

 out to proper distances by the hoe, and left to 

 take then- full growth. 



When the plants of the main spring and 

 summer crops have attained a pretty full growth, 

 especially those of the Coss kinds, it is neces- 

 sary to tie the leaves of them up with bass pretty 

 close, w1:ven the plants are quite dry, in order to 

 blanch the inner parts, and render them per- 

 fectly crisp and tender. 



Culture In ilie winter and very early spring 

 crops. — ^For this purpose some seed of the 

 Hardv Green and White Cabbage sorts, and the 

 Brown Dutch, and White and Green Coss kinds 

 should be sown about the middle of August, 

 and bcainning of September, in open situations, 

 when the plants will come up in a week or ten days, 

 and about the end of September; and in Octo- 

 ber, a parcel of the best plants of each sowing 

 should be planted out in a warm dry situation, 

 five or six inches asunder; and at the latter 

 period some in shallow frames, to be covered 

 with glasses on cold nights, and in bad weather; 

 or under hand-glasses, or in a bed arched over 

 with hoops or rods, to be covered with mats in 

 winter frosts. 



Under either of the above shelters the plants 

 should have the free air in mild dry weather, 

 covering them in cold nights with proper covers, 

 especially aftt-r this month; also in all very cold, 

 and in very wet w eather, day or night, particu- 

 larly those in the frames and under glasses ; and 

 those in hand-glasses may have the glasses 

 almost constantly over them in winter, tilting 

 up one side in mild weather, only setting them 



entirely off in fine mild dry days ; but in sharp 

 frosty weather keeping those under every kind 

 of shelter quite close ; allowing also additional 

 covering of mats or litter, when the frost is very 

 intense. Those in the borders may be defend- 

 ed by some light litter; but the coverinc; should 

 never be suffered to remain longeron any of the 

 crops than the bad weather continues, the free 

 air being admitted every mild day. 



In this method Lettuces may be had the 

 greatest part of winter and early iu spring, parti- 

 cularly the Cabbage sorts : those planted out 

 first will be fit for use in November and Decem- 

 ber, and the second plantings come in towards 

 Christmat;, and, being sheltered by the glasses, 

 continue coming in for use till succeeded by the 

 other latter autumn sowings : being careful that, 

 as any are gathered out of the frames or glasses, 

 others be removed from the borders to fill up the 

 vacancies, whereby the glasses may be constantly 

 supplied during the winter season. 



It is sometimes the practice where Lettuces 

 are intended to be planted in frames late in au- 

 tumn, for winter use, to have a moderate hot- 

 bed made for their reception, iu order that they 

 may be well forwarded in the beginning of win- 

 ter ; and if the heat is continued moderately by 

 aid of linings, allowing plenty of air in mild 

 weather, the plants may be very fine by Christ- 

 mas or a little after. 



Culture in the winter standing spring crops. — 

 In order to have good Lettuces for spring use, 

 some seed should be sown toward the middle 

 and latter end of August, for the plants to 

 stand the winter, some where sown, others 

 transplanted into warm borders, to stand with- 

 out any other shelter than that of the walls or 

 other fences ; and another sowing should be 

 performed about the middle of September, to 

 provide plants for pricking out under frames, to 

 have the shelter of the glasses all winter, as a re- 

 serve in case those in the borders are destroyed : 

 where both stand, one may succeed the other as 

 crops. 



In the first case a quantity of the best plants, 

 when t\\ o or three inches high, should be plant- 

 ed out towards the latter end of October, into 

 a south border, under a wall, &c. and in some 

 other warm dry situation, in rows six inches 

 asunder, and four inches in the rows ; or some 

 close unrler a south wall, or other fence, in a 

 foot-wide space all the way along, pricking them 

 therein four or si.\ inches distant ; as they 

 will have a better chance of standing the winter 

 than those situated more distant from the shelter 

 of the wall. In each method the plants are to 

 remain to take their chance all winter: out of 

 the whole many of them will probably escape 



