96 LETTUCE. 



Lettuce can be forwarded or had very early in the sea- 

 son by setting out the young plants in February or March, 

 seven or eight inches apart, in a cold frame, the soil hav- 

 ing two or three inches deep of rotted manure dug into it. 

 The frame should be well covered up at night, and air 

 given during the middle of the day, increasing the airing 

 as the season progresses. Care must be had to water them 

 frequently with tepid water, so that they may be kept in a 

 constantly growing state. 



When wanted very early, in the form of leaf lettuce, it 

 may be sown rather thickly broadcast in a hot-bed in Feb- 

 ruary. When the leaves are from three to four inches high 

 it will be fit to cut. 



The best hardy sorts for winter frames, are the 



Early Simpson; a variety of the curled Silesia. It does 

 not form a close, compact head, but is very tender, of ex- 

 cellent quality, and very early. 



Tennis Ball; this variety forms a close, hard head of 

 rather small size. It is very hardy, and slow in going to 

 seed. 



Hammersmith Hardy; this is the hardiest sort cul- 

 tivated. The leaves are very succulent, the heads small. 

 It soon runs to seed in warm weather. 



Green Winter Cabbage is also a very hardy sort, does 

 not run to seed readily, and forms a firm, solid, medium- 

 sized hea^. 



For summer use the best are the Large India ; it has a 

 very large, somewhat loose head, is very crisp and tender, 

 and withstands heat and dry weather admirably. 



Neapolitan has a very large, round, hard, close head, and 

 is very slow in running to seed. 



There is a class of lettuces known as Coss Lettuces, 

 which have long, straight leaves, that require to be tied 



