VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 245 



the ground where they are to remain, when the plants show 

 four leaves. The Early Cabbage may be planted nine 

 inches apart each way ; but the other varieties will not do 

 with less than a foot. The soil into which they are to be 

 removed to head must be rich, light, and mellow. Trans- 

 plant in moist weather with a trowel, disturbing the roots 

 as little as possible. Water the plants until established. 

 Rabbits are very fond of lettuce, but can be kept off by 

 dusting the young plants with ashes. After the young 

 plants get established, give them frequent hoeings ; and 

 if good seed was sown, there can be but little danger of 

 not being rewarded with beautiful crisp heads. 



Seed. Some of the finest and most perfect heads of the 

 early sown crops should be selected. Each variety must 

 be kept separate, and all imperfect heading plants near 

 them destroyed. Tie them to stakes, and gather the 

 branches as fast as they ripen. Dry the seed in the shade, 

 and thresh and store in paper bags. Lettuce seed cannot 

 be relied upon when more than two years old. 



Use. Lettuce is the most popular of all salads, and it 

 is also sometimes used in soups. Boiled, it is quite equal 

 to spinach. It is fit to boil from the time it is large enough 

 until the seed stalk begins to shoot up. Its juice contains 

 a narcotic principle somewhat like opium, which is in 

 small proportion when young, but increases with the 

 age of the plant. This principle has not the constipating 

 effects of opium. A tea prepared of lettuce leaves is 

 sometimes used in cases of diarrhoea. For a common 

 salad, let the leaves be carefully picked early in the morn- 

 ing, washed and drained before sending to the table, and 

 provide salt, oil, sugar, and vinegar, that each person may 

 season to his taste. The finer salads require hard-boiled 

 eggs, mustard, and other condiments. 



