142 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



out. After the seed is sown it should be beaten in 

 with the head of a rake, and the bed afterwards re- 

 gularly, but lightly, raked. An ounce of seed will 

 produce a great number of plants. When grown to 

 six or eight inches high, they will be of sufficient 

 size to plant out ; for which, purpose a good piece of 

 ground should be chosen, in which, after being well 

 broke up a full spade in depth, deep drills must be 

 drawn to receive the plants ; if more then one row, 

 a foot apart. When ready, the plants are to be taken 

 up from the seed bed, and after their tops and roots 

 are moderately shortened, planted (first giving their 

 root a gentle twist in the drill) about nine inches 

 asunder. If the ground or weather is dry, a little 

 water will be necessary. When the plants are ob- 

 served to be in a growing state, the ground should 

 be hoed and levelled round them : by frequent hoeing 

 and keeping the ground clear of weeds, they will at- 

 tain a useful mature size early in autumn. On the 

 approach of hard weather a parcel may be taken up 

 and laid under cover in dry sand, for winter use. 



29. LETTUCE. LACTUCA. 



Lactwa sativa, the former title, from the Latin 

 word lac, was given to this plant on account of the 

 milky juice with which it abounds ; the English 

 name, lettuce, is a corruption of its botanic term 

 Lactuca : many old writers spelt it lectuce. 



The lettuce may be said to be a native of the four 

 quarters of the world, but the finest was originally 

 procured from Egypt, Aleppo, and the island of 

 Cos, belonging to the Turks. From that island 

 our finest lettuce, Cos, takes its name, as do all 



