306 FORCING LETTUCES. 



young fruit attached at the bottom of the flower. 

 This is only necessary in early forcing, while the 

 bees and other winged insects are scarce, par- 

 ticularly the bees, which, by flying from flower 

 to flower to collect honey, convey the farina of 

 the male blossoms to those of the female, which 

 causes the fruit to set more successfully. Al- 

 though the plants generally succeed better by 

 the above treatment, the seed may be sown in 

 large pots or boxes, to remain for fruiting ; by 

 this practice tolerably good early cucumbers are 

 sometimes produced. It is also advisable to sow 

 more seed occasionally, as failures will sometimes 

 happen to these tender plants by mere accident; 

 and by this precaution, if they are not quite so 

 early, the disappointment will not be so great as 

 entirely losing the early season. 



EARLY LETTUCES IN FORCING HOUSES. 



Par. 69. Lettuces of different sorts, but par- 

 ticularly the white Cos, may be forwarded for 

 early use in forcing houses, by planting them in 

 the borders any time in winter ; but the most 

 successful way to have them in the best per- 



