108 FAEM-GARDENING AND SEED-GROWING. 



Preparing for Market, Dig the plants, peel off the 

 decayed leaves, cut back the roots and tops, wash, and tie 

 in round bunches of six to eight. Leeks may be stored 

 for winter the same as celery. 



Seed, They are grown for seed the same as for market, 

 but should be in beds of six rows only, to facilitate cut- 

 ting. They stand the winter without protection, and in 

 spring will require deep hoeing, and to be kept clean so 

 long as they can be worked. The after-treatment is in 

 all respects precisely the same as for onion seed, which is 

 given in detail under that head. The final cleaning must 

 be given by No. 18 sieve, as the seed is smaller than that 

 of the onion. 



Leek seed can not be depended on more than one >ear, 

 but if well kept a fair proportion will germinate the 

 second season. 



Varieties. The varieties are not numerous, the most 

 popular being known among gardeners as the 



Large Flag, The main point of this is its broad flat 

 leaves, whence its name. 



LETTUCE. 



This is a very important crop with market-gardeners, 

 and large quantities are annually grown in the open air, 

 and much is grown during winter in hot-beds, and exten- 

 sively in cold-frames, some using over one thousand 

 sashes for this purpose. 



It is quite perishable, especially when it has been forced, 

 hence it can not be recommended as a very desirable 

 article to send long distances to market. It is, however, 

 of importance to the seed-grower, as large quantities of 

 seed are annually used, and all gardeners prefer the 

 American-grown seed. 



Sowing Seed and Growing Plants, Directions are 

 given for sowing the seed in the fall, and wintering the 



