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AMATEUR cultivator's GUIDE 



I^ettuce (Lactuca Sativa). 

 German, Lattich. — French, Laitue. — Spanish, Lechuga. 

 The Lettuce is generally divided into two classes ; viz., Cabbage Lettuces and Cos Lettuces. 



The CaLbage have round heads and broad-spreading leaves; the Cos varieties have longheads, 



and upright, oblong leaves. 



Culture. — A very rich soil is necessary to produce fine head Lettuce. Its crisp and tender 



quality depends very much on a luxuriant and vigorous growth. The earliest sowing may be made 



in February or March, under glass with slight heat. Keep the plants thin, and admit plenty of air 



to the frame every fine day. For later supplies, sow in the open ground as soon as the season will 



permit : transplant or thin out the plants gradually to a foot apart, and keep well cultivated. The 



Cos Lettuces are excellent if grown very early in the spring, but run to seed quickly in hot weather. 



The large Cabbage kinds are best, and most suitable for summer crops. 



per c z. 



Early-curled Silesia. Standard sort ; very early; the best for forcing and the first spring 



sowing ; makes a loose head ; tender, and of excellent flavor. Per pkt., lo . .40 



Early Tennisball. One of the oldest and most esteemed of the Cabbage Lettuce. The 

 head is below medium size ; dark -green ; very solid if grown in cool weather ; 

 one of the earliest and best. Per pkt., 10 40 



Early Royal Cape, or Summer Cape. Head roundish, usually well-formed, and moder- 

 ately close and firm ; good size ; as a summer Lettuce, is one of the best. Per 

 pkt., 10 40 



Early Drumhead, or Malia. Head remarkably large, somewhat flattened, compact ; pale 

 green without, and white at the centre ; crisp and tender ; fine summer variety. 

 Per pkt., s . . 25 



Boston Curled. A new variety; one of the best for general cultivation. The elegant 

 frilling of the leaves, and fine form, make it very attractive ; flavor very fine. Per 

 pkt., 10 40 



Royal Summer Cabbage. Head medium-sized, round, somewhat flattened, firm, and 



close. Per pkt., 5 30 



Large India. Heads large and compact, similar to the Curled Silesia, but is less curled, 

 and whiter ; sometimes tinted with brown; heads round, crispy, and fine flavor; 

 very popular as a market variety ; one of the best for summer culture. Per 

 pkt., 10 40 



Wheeler's Tom Thumb. A new English variety; very dwarf and compact; excellent 



flavor; crisp and refreshing. Per pkt., 10 50 



Ivery's Nonesuch. A new English variety, highly recommended as a summer variety. Per 



pkt., 10 40 



Brown Dutch. A very hardy sort, enduring the winter with less protection than most 

 other varieties ; heads medium size, rather long, and loose ; good flavor ; gener- 

 ally sown in the autumn. Per pkt., 10 40 



HammersmillT Hardy Green. A very popular old variety. It is considered the hardiest 

 sort in cultivation, and is one of the best for growing in winter or forcing. Per 

 pkt., 10 40 



Victoria Cabbage. An excellent early and hardy variety ; is larger than Tennisball ; heads 



freely, and is crisp and well-flavored ; should be planted early. Per pkt., 10 . 40 



White Paris Cos. This variety is grown mostly by London and Paris market-gardeners; 



tender, brittle, and mild-flavored. Per pkt., 10 40 



Green Paris Cos. Considered one of the best of the Cos Lettuce. It has a tender, brittle 



leaf; some days earlier than the White Cos. Per pkt., 10 40 



Large Spotted, or Tigered. A new and tender variety, with large spotted leaves. Per 

 pkt., 10. 



Blood-red. Very tender variety, with red leaves ; new. Per pkt., 10 50 



Perpignan. A fine variety, forming large solid heads, with very crisp and tender leaves; 



new. Per pkt., 10 50 



Ne Plus Ultra. Very large, firm head ; tender, and keeps well. Per pkt, 10 . . .50 



Carter's Giant Brown Cos. Per pkt., 25. 



Dunnett's Giant Black-seeded Brown Cos. Per pkt., 25. 



The last three are new English varieties, said to be very large, criso, and good-flavored varie- 

 ties of Lettuce, with fine broad leaves, which tarn in well ; all of them are late varieties, coming 

 in some three weeks after the common sorts. 



IMartynla (Martynia Proboscidia). 



A hardy annual plant, with a strong branching stem two feet and a half high. The leaves are 

 large, heart-shaped, entire, or undulated, downy, viscous, and emit a peculiar musk-like odor when 

 bruised or roughly handled. The young pods are the parts of the plants used. These are pro- 

 duced in great abundance, and should be gathered when about half grown, or while tender and 

 succulent : after the hardening of the flesh, they are worthless. They are used for pickles, and 

 by many are considered superior to the Cucumber, or any other vegetable employed for that pur- 

 pose. 



Culture. — The Martynia is of easy culture. As the plants are large and spreading, they 

 should be two and a half feet apart in each direction. The seeds may be sown in April or May, in 

 the open ground, where they are to remain ; or the seeds may be sovro earlier in a hotbed, and 

 transplanted. 



per oz. 

 Martynia. Per pkt., 10 ... 40 



