Lettuces. 219 



with which it can be employed as a catch-crop. In this respect 

 it is probably the most useful plant in the garden, as it takes 

 up little space, is easy to grow, quick to mature, meets with a 

 ready sale, and thus makes it easy to put to a profitable use 

 many spaces between slower developing main crops which 

 would otherwise remain unoccupied. 



Almost any kind of soil may be so prepared that it will grow 

 good lettuces, although the finest are usually produced on soil 

 answering the description of a light sandy loam % But whatever 

 may be the kind of soil employed, it is essential for really good 

 results that it is rich with manure, is well-drained, and is well 

 supplied with moisture in the warm months, so that all the 

 conditions favour quick growth. 



Lettuces are grouped into two classes Cabbage Lettuce and 

 Cos Lettuce. The former is mostly used in mixed salads at all 

 seasons and alone as a simple salad in the early spring months, 

 before the latter can be produced at a price which brings them 

 within the means of the general public. As soon, however, as 

 Cos Lettuces become cheap the Cabbage variety is immediately 

 discarded by the multitude, 

 who prefer the more crisp 

 and juicy leaves of the Cos, 

 and for that reason every 

 effort should be made to 

 so arrange matters that 

 the supply of Cabbage 

 Lettuce intended for 

 market terminates by the copyright, s. & s. 

 middle of May, after which Cabbage Lettuce> Sutton , s He artwell. 

 date the demand speedily 

 diminishes and soon practically ceases. 



Forced Lettuces. The earliest supplies are those of Cabbage 

 Lettuce forced on mild hot-beds, either in frames or under 

 cloches. These are followed by Cos raised under cloches. 

 With a sufficiency of warm manure, Cabbage Lettuce may be 

 obtained at any time during the winter, but for practical 

 purposes, where the resulting profits must necessarily be the 

 controlling factor, they can scarcely be produced before the 

 early part of March, nor are supplies of Cos practicable before 



