1877.J 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



35 



ind tliat great minibers of them arc often 

 fouivi in cleaiiiiif; out ponds, buried dei;p in 

 the mud at the bottom, and also tliat tliey 

 have been known to come (lut on marshy 

 |ands, in dark, cloudy or rainy days. 



The "Proteans," to whicli Ihey are allied 

 )y family, Pro(d(s sa»(7ia)iti.>i,for iiis(ance,have 



flattened tail, only two toes on the hinder 

 feet, and a kind of external j^ills on each side 



Ef the neck ; and arc said to have been a deli- 

 ious edible. When Cortez invaded i^Iexico 

 I — according to Air. ]$iillock, an Enirlish 

 author— the lakes surrounding the city of 

 Mexico were full of an alhed genus, (Siredon 

 nisrlforme,) and were esteemed such a great 

 luxury, that for some time that renowned in- 

 \ ;uler fed his army upon tliem ; and that long 

 ■ifterwards, when the city of Mexico came 

 under Spanish rule, thousands of them were 

 icxposed for sale in the imblic markets. 

 \Meuobranrhux lateralis, found in the great 

 lakes of North America, is said to attain a 

 lengtli of three feet. The "Sirens." an allied 

 family, have two feet in front and none behind. 

 I Thisissayingagreatdeal about a "varmint" 

 but such newspaper paragraphs, usually treat 

 ixn interesting subject so flippantly, that in 

 many instances, and to the mas.ses of the peo- 

 ple, they do not afford the least enlightenment, 

 in consequence of their very indefinite no- 

 menclature. 



LETTUCE, 



Litctttru Sitliva. 



' Lettuce is a hardy annual, of which the 

 original country seems to be unknown. It has 

 been found wild in many different parts of the 

 Ift'orld, and was first cultivated in England 

 ^bout the year 1.5tJ2. It is divided into two 

 families, called the Cos and the cabbage lettuce. 

 The first — distinguished by an upright 

 ^rowth — was introduced from the island of 

 ;Uos ; and the second, — the habits of which are 

 pomewhat indicated by its name, — from Egyi>t. 

 pur climate is not altogether favorable to the 

 Cos family ; or, at least, we find the other one 

 much more thrifty and worthy of cultivation. 

 For the information of tlie curious reader ; 

 \t is well to stale, that the botanical term 

 \Lactucn is derived from Iw. the Latin word 

 for milk, in allusion to the milky juice which 

 exudes from the stem when broken. This 

 tuice, when the plants are young, contains but 

 B. small quantity of the narcotic principle ; but 

 It gradually acquires a strong, bitter taste, 

 and becomes notably sedative. " This property 

 feeems to have been known at a very early 

 period, and a lettuce supper was thought 

 fiighly conducive to repose. The varieties 

 and sub-varieties are numerous, and, as is 



fisual in such cases, a very few include the 

 eading merits of the whole. 

 The best soil for lettuce is, undoubtedly, a 

 I jmellow loam, deep, rich, and founded upon a 

 ■ "ry substratum. It should be fertile, and it 

 pt so naturally, must be supplied with a good 

 uantity of old dung, some time previous to 

 he sowing of the seed. This is better done 

 n autumn, than in the spring. 



CuLTuuE. . By the exerci.se of a little fore- 

 jtbought, the family gardener can keep his 

 liable supplied with lettuce throughout the 

 kear, at a very trifling expense. To have 

 fearly plants for sprhig use, the first sowing 

 must be made either in the nrevious autumn, 

 Drelse in the latter part of winter, ujion a hot- 

 bed. The first plan we consider decidedly the 

 best, as the plants are hardier, and better able 

 to bear removal to the open ground, than those 

 Dbtaiaed by artificial heat. 



This sowing may be between the first and 

 the middle of^ September, upon a bed of liglit, 

 rich soil, having the benefit of shade at mid- 

 day. The best varieties are, the Large Green- 

 head, the Brown Dutch, and the Early Cab- 

 bage, together with such others as are capable 

 of standing severe winter weather. From 

 nine to twelve thousand plants have been 

 raised from a single ounce of seed. Sow rather 

 thinly in drills eiyht inches apart ; cover the 

 seed lightly, and, in a dry time, press the 

 surface of the bed, by patting it with the 

 spade, or by walking upon a board. When 



the plants crowd one another in the drill, thin 

 tlieni out to distances of two or three inches, 

 allowing them just suflicient 8i)acc ti> secure a 

 good .stocky growth before cold weather sets 

 in. Such as arc inilled, can be set out in 

 another |ilace, perhajis on the sjiot to be en- 

 closed by the cold frame. The soil should be 

 kept light and clean. 



In the latter part of October the plants are 

 to be furnished with their winter i)rolection. 

 Some of the hardy varieties, which are intend- 

 ed for early crops can be set out one foot 

 apart, upon the south side of ridges, that will 

 be covered with straw during severe weather. 

 The princijial iiart, however, should be re- 

 removed to the cold frame or box, and there 

 dibbled as closely as they will stand without 

 interfering with one another. The covering, 

 lie it of glass or plain boards, must be often 

 ojiened in mild, pleasant days, for the admis- 

 sion of fresh air. Look out for the attack.s of 

 earth-worms and slugs ; dusting the leaves 

 with soot is somewhat of a preventive. Or, 

 instead of using a cold frame, the seed bed 

 can be covered with mats ])laced over bent 

 hoops. Whatever may be the jilan adopted, 

 do not omit regular ventilation in all pleasant 

 weather. 



Where the sowing was not made in autumn, 

 according to the above directions, and early 

 plants are wanted, they must be obtained 

 from a small hot bed, built in the latter part 

 of winter. No great amount of heat is re- 

 quired, but care should be taken to prevent 

 any bad consequences from the want of jiure 

 air. For general directions upon the forma- 

 tion and management of hot-beds, the reader 

 must refer to an article on "Forcing Vegeta- 

 tion." 



Taking it for granted that the gardener is 

 supplied with plants, which have been safely 

 kept through the inclement season, let us fol- 

 low their subsequent growth. At the mo- 

 ment that frost leaves the ground, a small 

 nimiber ought to be transplanted to a very 

 warm border, liaving the full benefit of the 

 sun's rays, and protected from cold winds on 

 the north side. They will for some length of 

 time require the friendly shelter of hand- 

 glasses, until they become "gradually accustom- 

 ed to the change of quarters, and until the 

 progress of tl)e season permits their exposure 

 with imi)unity. A second, third, or fourth 

 removal of these jjlants can be made in the 

 same way, at intervals of seven or eight days. 

 By such a course, a great advantage will be 

 obtained in the regular maturity of the crop. 



The first spring sowing in the open com- 

 partment, should take place as soon as the 

 weather and ground will permit — perhaps be- 

 tween the middle and beginning of March. 

 For the bed select a warm border in a shelter- 

 ed situation, and mark out the drills twelve 

 inches apart. The varieties well adapted f(n- 

 this sowing, are the Brown Dutch, the Early 

 Cabbage, and the Drumhead. Sow thinly, 

 and in dry weather, press the earth in close 

 contact with the seed. When the plants are 

 two inches high, they are to be thinned out to 

 distances of four inches in the drill, and those 

 wliich are pulled can be easily inserted in 

 another bed. At this time transplanting can 

 be practiced successfully, but when the sea- 

 son is further advanced, they seldom head 

 well if removed from the seed bed. When 

 tliey are four or five inches high, they should 

 be so thinned as to stand one foot apart each 

 way. Water ought to be given freely at 

 evei'j' removal performed in a dry day, and 

 regularly afterwards until the roots are estab- 

 lished. The hoe must be used frequently be- 

 tween the drills, not only for the purpose of 

 eradicating weeds, but also for the sake of 

 keeping the surface soil light and porous. 



Another sowing can be made about a month 

 later, and a third in August for the late sum- 

 mer croi). The best varieties are the Indian, 

 the Royal Cabbage, and such others as are 

 able to withstand the intense heat of summer. 

 Sow in drills, at the same distance apart as 

 before, and thinly, so as to avoid transplant- 

 ing. It will be recollected that lettuce sel- 



dom does well when transplanted in warm 

 weather. 



Tlie winter crop is to be sown in the latter 

 part of Septendjer. Tlie Early Cabbage is an 

 excellent kind for this purpose. In the fol- 

 lowing month, when the weather becomes 

 cold, the plants are to be removed to a hot- 

 bed, or the forcing-pit. The mould should be 

 some eight or ten inches below the gla.ss. 

 Take the roots up very carefully by means of 

 the trowel, and set the halls of earth iu rows, 

 nine inches ajiart eacli way. Water ought to 

 be given in muderate quantities from time to 

 time through the winter, and the siishes shad- 

 ed at midday until the roots have taken hold. 

 Air is to be admitted freely m all pleasant 

 weather, while in a severe frost the i)rotection 

 of mats upon the gla.s.s, as well as of a bank of 

 earth around the frame, will be necessary. 

 Decayed leaves must be removed as soon as 

 they are discovered, (iood heads for eating 

 may be obtained in December, and through 

 the remainder of the winter. 



In this elinuite, the Cos lettuces are far from 

 being as succes.sf'ul as in Europe. They can 

 be sown in autumn, and protected through 

 the inclement season, to l)e transplanted into 

 the open ground in spring. They are blanch- 

 ed by being tied up like the endive, a week or 

 ten days before wanted for use. 



Foil SEEU. Select some of the best plants 

 of the autumn or spring sowings. Put them 

 in rows, eighteen incheji apart each way, and 

 do not omit to keep the varieties separate. 

 When two or more kinds are suftiered to 

 bloi^som in the vicinity of each other, a mon- 

 grel will surely be the result. Sujiport the 

 flower-stems by .stakes,and izather the branches 

 as the seed ripens, instead of wailing for a 

 large portion to be wasled on the ground. 

 That borne by stalks which have run up pre- 

 maturely, cannot be depended upon. Place 

 the branches on a cloth or a large newspaper, 

 spread in the shade, and then let them get 

 perfectly dry before you attempt to thresh out 

 the seed. 



Use. — Lettuce may be considered as be- 

 longing to the very best class of salads, and 

 perhaps it is superior to all others. It posses- 

 ses a mild, agreeable taste, while it is wliole- 

 some and easy of digestion. It is also some- 

 times used in soups. It is largely cultivated 

 for the extraction of its narcotic properties, 

 which are somewhat similar to those of opium, 

 but have not the constipating effects of that 

 drug. The stalk is cut just before the flower 

 is ready to open, and the crust which forms 

 upon the top is carefully gathered. The stalk 

 is cut again and again, until the milky juice 

 ceases to exude. 



To Dkess a Salad.— This seems to be a 

 convenient iilace for giving directions how to 

 dress a salad, which is a general name for 

 certain vegetables, such as lettuce, endive and 

 mustard, prepared so as to be eaten raw. They 

 should be well washed and cut into small 

 pieces. An egg is boiled hard, and, when it 

 becomes cold, the yolk is to be taken out and 

 broken on a plate. Then put with it a large 

 teaspoonful of cold water and near a teaspoon- 

 ful of salt. Rub all this together, by means 

 of a spoon or fork, till the egg is a thick paste, 

 free from lumps. Next, add and mix a table- 

 spoonful of salad oil or cold melted butler ; and 

 after this, add at least a tables) >oonful of good 

 vinegar. When these are all well mixed, the 

 dressing is made, and is either to be put im- 

 mediately with the salad, or be sent to the 

 table in a separate dish. The top of the salad 

 may be ornamented with small pieces of the 

 while of the egg and slices of pickled beet. 



ANTS AND ANT-EATERS. 



Having read the following account in a 

 book about ants and ant -eaters, I thought it 

 would interest the readers of tiie Lancaster 

 Farmer. A traveler in South America says: 

 "We rode over hills used as pasture-ground, 

 which were literally dotted with the upright 

 and fallen columns that had hocn erected by 

 the Termites, or white ants. These curious 

 edifices, and their still more curious archi- 



