220 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



the end of March or the early part of April. The most profit- 

 able method of obtaining these early Lettuce is that followed by 

 the French gardener, who makes them part of a series of 

 early crops raised on hot-beds, as is fully described in Chapters 

 XI, XII, and XIII, to which the reader is referred for full 

 details in connection with the forcing of Lettuces. 



Cold Frames. Immediately following the supplies from hot- 

 beds come those from cold frames. Excellent Lettuces are 

 produced in tfcis way, and although a little later are quite 

 equal to those from hot-beds, and being superior to and much 

 earlier than any grown in the open-air are sure to find a 



ready market at excellent 

 prices. Indeed, when the 

 cost of production of each 

 method is considered, it 

 is probable that on the 

 average crops from cold 

 frames yield quite as much 

 net profit as those from 

 hot-beds. 



Seed for this purpose is 



f 



. S. S. 



Cos Lettuce, Button's Whiteheart. Ct ber m A the 



manner : A seed-bed of 



light rich compost is prepared. Care should be taken that the 

 bed is moist, particularly below the surface, because the plants 

 should, if possible, be raised without watering. After the soil 

 has been pressed down evenly with the firming board, cloches 

 are placed upon it and by being pressed make circular marks 

 in the soil. Within the rings so made the seed is sown broad- 

 cast, thinly, covered lightly with compost, pressed down with 

 the firming board, and covered with the cloches. Mats are 

 laid over all until the seed germinates, when they are at once 

 removed, but if the weather is bright they are replaced for two 

 or three hours in the middle of each day to prevent the tender 

 young seedlings from being scorched by the sun, or the soil 

 made too dry. 



The seedlings show in four or five days after sowing, and a 

 few days after they are up, as soon as they can be handled, they 



