LEEK. 229 



LETTUCE. 



Ajo. important vegetable -with, the market gardener, and one 

 that is very acceptable in spring to every lover of salads. Those 

 who desire to supply it as early as possible, vnU sow seed of some 

 of the hardiest sorts, such as the Brown Dutch, or Hardy Green 

 Wiater, about the middle of September, iu a warm exposure and 

 in rich soU. In about a month later the plants will be ready for 

 the frames, into which they must be transplanted, and as the 

 weather becomes severe, protected with a sash, or in favorable 

 positions, with dry leaves. The plants are sufficienty hardy to 

 endure a cold of twenty degrees below the freezing poiut, and 

 consequently only require a slight protection. We believe that 

 in our climate, the north side of a building or high board fence 

 is much better than the south side, or any side where the sun 

 can shine directly upon the sash. A, uniform cold temperature, 

 provided the cold be not greater than that mentioned above, is less 

 likely to prove iujurious to the plants than one that is frequently 

 changing under the action of the sun's rays. A frame three feet 

 by six wiU hold six hundred plants. As soon as the ground can be 

 worked in the spring, these plants should be set out between the 

 rows of early Cabbage that have been wiatered over ia the same 

 manner, thus economizirig the ground, because the Lettuce will 

 be all fit for cutting and used before the ground wUl be occupied 

 by the Cabbage. Those who do not wish to take this trouble to 

 secure fine early Lettuce may sow the seed in a hot-bed, or in a 

 cold frame, or in the open air, according to the time when they 

 wish to use it, or the conveniences they may have for growing it. 

 K in the open air, a warm, sunny and well-sheltered spot is to be 

 chosen, where it is possible, and the soil made rich with weU- 

 decayed ma,nure, and worked up loose and fine. ' We have 

 noticed that although the Cabbage Lettuces wiU. often head well, 

 if allowed su£B.cient room in the seed bed, they usually head more 

 uniformly if transplanted, and are in less haste to run up to 



