24 FARM-GAKDENING AND SEED-GROWING. 



Lettuce, however, must not be planted very deep ; if the 

 whole of the root be covered, it will be quite sufficient. 



The plants may be shaded for a day or two, and if the 

 earth is dry a light sprinkling of water may be given, but 

 this will not be necessary if the earth is fresh and 

 has been pressed firmly to the roots. The plants may be 

 set two and a half by two inches apart ; but they will be 

 stronger and better by setting three inches each way, ex- 

 cept lettuce, which will have ample room at the distance 

 first named. They should remain exposed until the ap- 

 proach of severe weather, when the sashes must be put on, 

 and during very severe frosts beds of cauliflower may be 

 further protected at night by mats, old carpet, or the like 

 thrown over the sashes. Always bear in mind that these 

 plants are placed in the cold-frame for preservation, and 

 not to make growth ; hence, after they have become 

 rooted, the bed must be kept rather dry than otherwise, 

 and the most important point of all is, to give an abun- 

 dance of air. Whenever the thermometer, in the shade 

 on a still day, shows ten degrees, the sashes may be pushed 

 down one or two inches from the top; at twenty degrees, 

 they may be pushed down nearly half-way, and at thirty 

 degrees they can be drawn entirely off. Where slides are 

 not used the sashes may be raised by means of wedges 

 placed under the upper end to correspond as nearly as pos- 

 sible with the above. 



These plants are almost hardy in the open ground, and 

 as the glass over them concentrates the sun's rays and 

 heats the air in the bed, great care must be taken lest 

 the plants become drawn thereby. There is much 

 greater danger of keeping them too warm than too cold. 



Especially is it very important that they should be ex- 

 posed for a fortnight before setting in the open ground, 

 and if they have been kept cool and not drawn, the frames 

 may be left open during frosty nights to harden the plants, 

 guarding against snow, which would be liable to destroy 



