88 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



drained position. For this crop it is a good plan to have 

 beds slightly raised above the general level, so that they will 

 be sure to stand dry ; slugs and birds must also be guarded 

 against. When the ground is dry in February or March hoe 

 well. The cabbage lettuce should be ready in April and the 

 cos early in May, and then usually realize good prices. 



Although lettuce treated as directed above seldom get des- 

 troyed by frost, that mishap does sometimes occur when the 

 winter is very severe, and as a safeguard another batch is 

 wintered under cloches; part of these are planted in cold 

 frames soon after the turn of the year and another part planted 

 a little later in open beds. 



Seed for these varieties is sown at the same time and in the 

 same manner as described above for cos and cabbage lettuce 

 intended for forcing, but fewer of the hardy than of the forcing 

 cabbage are put under a cloche, as they grow larger ; whilst 

 the forcing cabbage lettuce is kept under the cloche entirely 

 without ventilation, the hardy varieties are given air constantly 

 except during frost. The lettuces grown in cold frames come 

 ready earlier than those which stand out through the winter, 

 but those planted outside after the end of January come a little 

 later, and for this reason it is advisable to set out good strong 

 plants as early in the new year as the condition of the soil will 

 permit, so that they may be cleared not later than the middle 

 of May, as after that time there is very little demand for 

 cabbage lettuce. 



Lettuce Mildew and the Preference for Cloches. Cloches 

 are used in preference to frames for protecting lettuce during 

 winter because these plants are liable, especially under damp 

 conditions, to be attacked by mildew. When this disease gets 

 amongst the plants it is very destructive, often sweeping away 

 an entire batch. When cloches are used the area of attack is 

 kept within much narrower limits than if the plants are in a 

 frame. Efforts to find a remedy have so far met with very 

 indifferent success, and it is far safer to depend upon preven- 

 tion than on cure. A damp position and a stagnant atmos- 

 phere are almost certain to breed mildew, and these conditions 

 should be avoided. The bed on which the plants are pricked 



