Chap. XXVIIL] 



SALADS IN PARIS. 



479 



Cloches over Lettuce i?i Sprmg. 



salad as ever went to the Paris markets may be grown in England 

 and Ireland during the coldest months of winter and spring. The 

 winters in Northern France are severer than our own, and there 

 are many spots in England and Ireland which are preferable to 

 the neighbourhood of Paris for this culture. Near that city may 

 often be seen Cos and Cabbage Lettuces looking as fresh under 

 their coverings in the middle 

 of winter, when the earth is 

 frostbound, as Lilac-buds in 

 May : had they been treated 

 as ours usually are, they would 

 have presented a very different 

 appearance. As ordinary cul- 

 tivation suffices to grow them 

 with us in summer, and as 

 in winter and early spring our tables are supplied from France, 

 it is only as regards these supplies that we want improvement. 



The first and chief thing towards it is to prociire some of the 

 large bell-glasses or cloches used for this purpose. They are cheap, 

 require no repairs, and are easily cleaned and stored when not 

 required. The troublesome task of giving air is done away with 

 in their case. Without air on " every possible occasion " the 

 British gardener attempts nothing under glass. By adopting 

 this simple protector, he may forego that ceaseless trouble in 



Lettuce-growing throughout the winter 

 and early spring. In the hotter weeks 

 of autumn, these glasses are tilted up 

 on one side for an inch or so, with a 

 bit of stone placed underneath; but 

 when once winter comes they are 

 placed down quite close, and are all 

 through the winter in the same con- 

 dition as Wardian cases. By the way, 

 the French recognised this principle of the Wardian case 

 long before we did, and what is more, have made a far more 

 practical use of it. For all sorts of winter Salad-growing this 

 huge bell-glass is infinitely superior to anything that we use 

 for like purposes. The plants get full light at all times, and are 

 not in the least " drawn " or injured by the confinement, the light 



Plants 



of the Lettuce Petite Noire 

 under the Cloche in October. 



