356 GARDENING FOB THE >OUTH. 



begin to crowd, to two inches apart. Transplant into 

 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. 

 Transplant in moist weather with a trowel, disturbing the 

 roots as little as possible. Water the plants until estab- 

 lished. 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 w T as 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 diarrhea. 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. 



