SUPPLY OF FRESH VEGETABLES 373 



These, packed in soil and put in a Mushroom house or 

 other dark, warm structure, will push thick crowns. 



Lettuces. Salad-lovers will want constant supplies of 

 Lettuce, and the demand for it will be greater still where 

 it is liked as a cooked vegetable. It is an old custom to 

 sow Lettuces out of doors in summer, set them out in 

 autumn like Cabbages, and leave them to stand the 

 winter in the open ground, there to give an early supply 

 the following summer. But this is not enough for the 

 pronounced salad-lover, who will sow boxes of seed under 

 glass at frequent intervals in autumn and winter, and 

 set the plants out about six inches apart in hotbed 

 frames ; alternate plants are drawn young and the 

 remainder left to grow to a larger size. With water as 

 required and ventilation whenever the weather is favour- 

 able the crop will give no trouble. Acquisition, Golden 

 Queen, Early Cold Frame, May Queen and Romaine 

 Cos are all suitable sorts. (See also the chapter on French 

 Gardening.) 



Peas. One of the most delicious of crops, this is also 

 one of the most perplexing to the forcer, partly owing 

 to the fact that the plant requires a good deal of room, 

 partly because it does not respond well to much heat. 

 For frame-culture only the dwarfest varieties are avail- 

 able. Those who have lofty and airy houses may, in 

 fact should, choose taller sorts, although the tallest 

 Marrowfat varieties should not be selected. Two ex- 

 cellent varieties of medium height are Duchess of York 

 and World's Record. The former is one of the best 

 forcers, and the latter is one of the finest forms of the 

 popular Gradus type. Another variety that might be 

 grown is Pilot. Seeds may be sown in autumn and winter, 

 little or no fire-heat is given, and abundance of air 

 provided. This, with watering and staking, should 



