THE MANSE GARDEN. 163 



ing mounds will serve for earthing up and blanching 

 the leeks. A great part of the best growing season, 

 which is lost by the sickness of transplanting, is thus 

 saved to the still growing and vigorous plant ; and in 

 this way very large and excellent crops may be raised, 

 though at somewhat greater expense, the ground not 

 yielding, as by the former method, two crops in the 

 season. It is of advantage to raise your own seed, 

 as you can make sure of having it a year old, from 

 which the crop is less liable to suffer by shooting. 

 Let a few of the largest leeks be set any time in 

 October or February, within a foot of a south wall, 

 to which, as they grow up, they may be held by a 

 string. They will ripen their seed, in common 

 years, at a moderate elevation. Should the season 

 be unfavourable, a few of the heads may be drawn 

 together, and placed behind a handglass well fastened 

 to the wall, which will exclude rain and frost, and 

 admit, till late in autumn, the benefit of the declin- 

 ing sun. 



Lettuce. Of it there are many varieties ; but 

 two or three of the best may suffice. Of the tall- 

 growing sort, named coss or ice lettuce, the green 

 is the fittest for this climate. To have it early, it 

 may be sown by a south wall in February, or, for 

 convenience, along with onions or carrots. The seed 

 cannot be too lightly covered. When the seedlings 

 are three or four inches high, they may be trans- 

 planted in showery weather, in rows one foot apart 

 in each direction. By tying the leaves together near 

 the top, when well grown, they soon become beauti- 

 fully blanched and delicate. Of the cabbage kind, 

 the brown is the best for standing the winter, and 



