March.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. j Q7 



force some of the early Mazagan kind, in any of your forcing depart- 

 ments, observing, when the plants are in full blossom, to nip oft* 

 their tops, which will cause their fruit to set and. ripen sooner than 

 if left to take their natural course. 



Or you may, abuut the beginning of the month, plant a quantity 

 of them close together in a hot-bed, to be defended with a frame and 

 glasses, or with mats, &c, and when thus forwarded for two or three 

 weeks, plant them into the open ground; observing to give them 

 plenty of air whilst in the hot-bed, and when they have one or two 

 inches growth therein, to plant them into some warm border, in 

 rows two feet and a half or a yard asunder. 



For further particulars, and the method of planting all the kinds, 

 see February, page 134. 



Sowing and transplanting Lettuces. 



As early in this month as possible, prepare a warm south border, 

 and sow thereon, very thick, some of the early curled and grand 

 admiral lettuces; also some of the common cabbage lettuce, in 

 order to have it fit for cutting, with other small sallading, at an 

 early period, and to succeed such as you have forwarded in frames; 

 let the ground be dry and light, and the seed either raked in or 

 covered very slightly. 



Towards the middle of the month, if the weather be mild and 

 settled, you may sow in borders, beds, or any open compartments 

 of ground, different sorts of lettuce-seed, such as the white, green, 

 spotted, and Egyptian cos, grand admiral, white Silicia, India ten- 

 nis-ball, New-Zealand, Mogul, white and brown Dutch, &c„ these 

 are all most excellent sorts for this sowing, where variety of supe- 

 rior kinds are wanted. 



Every two weeks it will be necessary to sow other successional 

 crops, so as to have a regular and constant supply either for market 

 or family use. 



The different sorts should generally be sown separate, and in 

 digging the ground, let the earth be well pulverized. Sow the seed 

 on the surface, and rake them in lightly, taking care not to draw 

 the earth in heaps. 



Or some of the cos kinds particularly, may be sown thinly among 

 the crops of carrots, parsneps, leeks, &c. ; some for transplanting, 

 and others to remain for full growth. 



In sowing lettuce it is of much importance to have good sorts, 

 and such as will not run to seed before they attain full growth; 

 these are not commonly to be met with, and are worth procuring. 



As soon in this month as the weather gets mild and tolerably 

 warm, transplant some of the lettuce plants from the beds or bor- 

 ders, where they have stood all winter, provided they stand too 

 close. In doing this, observe to draw the plants out regularly, and 

 let the strongest remain for heading at about ten inches distance; 

 then loosen the. surface of the earth between them, and clear away 

 all decayed leaves and litter; after which, add a little fresh earth, 



