LETTUCE. 



LIBER. 



from prior cultivation than the immediate ap- 

 plication of manure. It is of advantage to 

 trench it; and if manure is necessarily applied 

 at the time of insertion, it should be in a state 

 of forward decay. For the first and last crops 

 of the year, a warm, sheltered situation is re- 

 quired; but for the midsummer ones, a border 

 that is sheltered during the meridian, but far 

 from being confined or under the shadow of 

 trees, is to be preferred. Lettuce is propagated 

 by seed : that for the first crop should be sown 

 in a frame, on a warm border, or slender hot- 

 bed, at the end of January or early in February; 

 at the close of this last month a larger quantity 

 may be sown in any open situation, and repeat- 

 ed once every three weeks in small proportions 

 until the end of July, for summer and autumn 

 use; to be continued, at similar intervals, until 

 the close of September, for winter and early 

 spring. They may be sown either broadcast 

 or in rows, moderately thin, each variety sepa- 

 rate, lightly covered, and care being taken that 

 the bed is trampled upon as little as possible. 

 It is usual, when the plants are about a month 

 old, or two inches in height, to thin them to 

 three or four inches apart, those removed being 

 pricked out at similar distances. Those from 

 the sowings in January and February, in a 

 similar situation to that in which they were 

 raised ; and thence until August in any open 

 situation. Those of the August sowing must 

 be divided into two portions ; the largest being 

 selected and planted in an open compartment 

 for late autumn use, and the smaller on a warm 

 border for winter and early spring. 



When planted out finally, they must be set 

 in rows a foot apart each way, which is abun- 

 dant for the largest variety, and not more than 

 necessary for the smaller. At the time of every 

 removal, whether of picking out or planting, 

 water must be given moderately, and until the 

 plants are rooted. It may be remarked, that 

 transplanted lettuces never attain so fine a 

 growth as those left where sown, nor become 

 so soon fit for use; those which are planted out 

 at once to remain, being better in these respects 

 than those which are pricked out previous to 

 final planting. The difference in their time of 

 becoming fit for use, however, is of advantage, 

 as by these means a more perfect succession 

 is obtained. Those which are planted to with- 

 stand the winter are best planted on the sum- 

 mit or south side of ridges, as this is a great 

 protection from excessive wet, from which they 

 always suffer. In every stage of growth they 

 must be kept free from weeds, well watered, 

 and the earth around them frequently stirred 

 for the extirpation of slugs and snails, which 

 are particularly injurious, and are very preva- 

 lent in moist seasons. 



When the cos varieties have attained an ad- 

 vanced growth, they require their leaves to be 

 draAvn together with a shred of matting, to ren- 

 tier the interior blanched, care being taken that 

 it is not performed 50 tight as to bruise them. 

 Under every favourable circumstance for a vi- 

 gorous growth, the plants-Jspecially of the cos 

 varieties, and during drj*seasons, will yet run 

 up to seed before the heart is perfectly blanched : 

 to retard this, it is an effectual practice, at the i 

 time of tying them up, to cut out the centre of ; 

 703 



each with a sharp knife. The plants raised 

 from the September sowing may be divided as 

 directed for those of August; but, in add-.tion, 

 some of the cos varieties may be planted on a 

 warm border, to have the shelter of frames and 

 hand-glasses. 



To produce seed, some of the finest and most 

 perfect plants of each variety that have sur- 

 vived the winter, or from the forwardest sow- 

 ing of the year, should be selected. The seed 

 fmm any that have run up prematurely cannot 

 be depended upon. All other plants must be 

 removed from their neighbourhood, themselves 

 being left at least a foot apart; neither is it 

 allowable for two varieties to flower near each 

 other, as only mongrel varieties will be obtained. 

 Each stem is advantageously attached to a 

 stake, as a support in tempestuous weather. 

 It is to be observed, that the branches must be 

 gathered as the seed ripens upon them, and not 

 left until the whole is ready, as some will ripen 

 two or three weeks before others, and conse- 

 quently the first and best seed will be shed and 

 lost. It must be well dried before it is beaten 

 out and stored. Lettuce seed is considered to 

 be best the second year ; but when three years 

 old it refuses to vegetate. 



The juice of the lettuce inspissated is termed 

 lartucarium. It possesses slight narcotic pro- 

 perties, and is useful in coughs. 



LETTUCE, LAMB'S. See CORN SALAD. 



LEVELLING. In husbandry, implies ren- 

 dering the ground even, and removing of impe- 

 diments to the common operations of tillage. 

 This is generally done by the plough, but 

 sometimes machines are employed for the 

 purpose. 



LEVER. In mechanics, an inflexible rod or 

 bar, movable upon a fulcrum or prop, and hav- 

 ing forces applied to two or more points. The 

 lever is one of the mechanical powers; and 

 being the simplest of them all, was the first 

 that was attempted to be explained. 



Examples of the application of the lever are 

 of constant occurrence in the mechanical arts. 

 The crowbar, the handspike, nippers, pince-rs, 

 &c., are levers of the first kind. The second 

 kind includes the chipping knife, the common 

 door, nutcrackers, the wheelbarrow, &c. To 

 levers of the third kind belong the sheep-shears, 

 the treddle of the turning-lathe, tongs, &c. The 

 bones of animals are generally levers. The 

 socket of the bone is the fulcrum ; a strong 

 muscle, attached to it near the socket, is the 

 power; and the weight of the limb, with what- 

 ever resistance is opposed to its motion, is the 

 weight. A very moderate contraction of the 

 muscle thus gives considerable motion to the 

 limb. (Gregory's Merh. vol. ii.) 



LEVERET. A young hare, in the first year 

 of its age. 



LEY, LEA, or LAY. Land in the state of 

 sward or grassy surface. 



LIBER (Lat. bark}. In botany, the 'interioi 

 lining of the bark of exogenous plants. It con- 

 sists of woody tissue in great quantity, and 

 very thick-sided, intermixed with cellular tis- 

 sue. It appears to be formed annually, at the 

 same time as the concentric zones of wood, 

 and is intended by nature to convey downwards 

 the secretions elaborated in the bark and leaves 



