SALAD PLANTS. 



95 



the finest of all the lettuces. The seed of this variety is sown in 

 November in a cold frame. When it has germinated, the lights are 

 taken off every fine day. At the end of February a portion is 

 planted out, and if severe frost kills them another portion takes their 

 place. 



It is so important to have good seed that we always save our 

 own seed. I begged a little from a market-gardener many years ago, 



FIG. 129. Selected Paris Cos Lettuce. 



FIG. 130. Neapolitan Cabbage Lettuce, \ size. 



who had begged it of another many years previously, and the finest 

 lettuces have always been allowed to run to seed: ever since, in this 

 way we have secured a fine stock. For successive crops seed is sown 

 again in January and February in the orchard-house, and these 

 sowings are followed up by others, so that we obtain lettuces nearly 

 till Christmas. 



In summer some persons like varieties of the cabbage lettuce, 

 and I have figured one from Mr. Terry's garden, the Neapolitan 

 Cabbage (fig. 130). There is also an enormous lettuce, called 

 Dixon's Lettuce, which we sometimes grow, the leaves of which are 

 tender and excellent. 



Lettuces are praised by Horace as easily digestible : 



"Nam lactuca innatat acri 

 Post vinum stomacho." HORACE, Satira iv. 



Lettuces should be grown in highly manured ground, and kept 

 watered at Midsummer. If the underground aphis attacks the root, 

 which it often does in August, the plant withers and dies. 



