LETTUCE 137 



of southern Europe during the summer months. 

 The special advantage of this type is that it forms 

 crisp, firm heads in the hot season, when other 

 lettuce quickly goes to seed. It is, however, not so 

 easy to handle as the loose-leaf lettuce, and should 

 be tried by the amateur as an experiment. The 

 Cos lettuce grows in tall, compact heads, and is 

 rather firmer and heavier in texture than the other 

 types. 



Colored Lettuce. — Most of the common varieties 

 of lettuce are light green in color, but all seed houses 

 carry crimped types which have edges colored in 

 bronze, or golden brown. These are usually of good 

 quality and vary little from the general type which 

 these special strains represent. 



Planting 



Sowing Seed in the "Window Box. — To get good 

 plants in the cold frame, or in the window box, at 

 home or at school, prepare two or three inches of 

 soil, made light and rich with well-rotted manure. 

 Lettuce seed is very small, but it is pretty sure to 

 sprout and thrive. It should, therefore, not be put 

 in too thick. When the earth is fine, firm, and 

 level, sprinkle the seeds here and there over the sur- 

 face, leaving a half inch between each seed. Then 

 sift over this just enough rich soil to cover it well ; 

 a quarter of an Inch is enough. As this may easily 

 be kept watered, there is no need to press it down. 



