THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



large enough to handle well, having three or four 

 leaves, should he transplanted on to another hed of 

 equally rich soil, and in rows ahout ten inches apart ; 

 the space of five or six inches heing permitted be- 

 tween the plants in the rows. 



Where it is desirable to grow very fine examples 

 — and it is always best to make the attempt — a better 

 way is to make a shallow trench, precisely as for 

 Celery, only do not take out more than four or five 

 inches of the soil. Then dig in an inch or so of very 

 rotten manure, level the surface over, press it down 

 with the foot, and plant the seedlings therein in two 

 rows, ia such manner that each plant in oppo- 

 site rows be at angles 

 with the other. Keep 

 free of weeds during 

 the whole summer, and 

 water freely during dry 

 weather. 



Towards the end of 

 the summer, and after a 

 goodly growth has been 

 made, place a mulching 

 of fine manure between 

 the plants, and hoe a 

 Httle of the soil from the 

 sides of the trench down 

 on to and over it. Give 

 another good watering, 

 using manure-water if 

 possible, and the crop 

 wiU advance rapidly in 

 size, becoming some- 

 what blanched at the -^J 

 base preparatory to use. 

 There are certain im- 

 proved sorts, and the Evee-White 

 Jlusselburgh, Ayrton 

 Castle, Henry's Prize, and the Carentan are best. 



Lettuce {Zactuea sativa). French, Zaitue ; 

 German, Lattich; Italian, Lattuga; Spanish, ZscAw^a. 

 — The Lettuce is a hardy annual, the origin of which 

 is buried in some mystery ; whether a sport from our 

 other native species cannot therefore be determined. 

 It is of free and easy culture, luxuriating in the 

 richest of loamy soils, wherein its seeds freely ger- 

 minate, from which seedlings the crisp hearts proceed. 

 It is more especially an early simimer and autumn 

 plant. The heat and aridity of moderately dry sum- 

 mers too generally hurry its growth into flowering 

 and the seed form. Those who would secure fine pro- 

 duce must, therefore, give their attention especially 

 to crops produced during these seasons of the year. 



Two grave errors are far too generally perpe- 

 trated in connection with Lettuces, i.e., they are 

 14 



too often treated as a subsidiary crop to other kinds 

 of vegetables, and are sown too 'thickly in seed- 

 beds and grown too thickly together. Always where 

 possible set a portion of the garden, however small, 

 apart for them. Not only should the soil be mellow, 

 deep, and highly enriched with manure, but it should 

 possess also full exposure to sun and air, with perfect 

 drainage. 



These secured, successional crops, constant and in 

 season, will be guaranteed by sowing the first smaU 

 seed-bed towards the end of the mouth of March. 

 At the same time it is good practice to sow a large 

 wooden box with seeds, to encourage germination 

 and early gxowth under 

 glass ; a cold pit or 

 frame being excellent 

 for this purpose. So 

 soon as the young plants 

 have three or four 

 leaves, and are fit to 

 handle, draw the largest 

 out carefully, and trans- 

 plant thickly together 

 in nursery-bed fashion, 

 agaia planting them out 

 in rows from twelve to 

 fifteen inches apart, and 

 about ten inches apart 

 in the rows. To steady 

 and aid the young 

 plants, a shallow drill- 

 row might be drawn 

 along, in which to 

 transplant them. 



Being very subject to 

 slugs, a slight dusting 

 of lime towards evening 

 occasionally wOl be a 

 Having well thinned out 

 the plants in the seed-bed, leave a sufiioient number 

 thereon to gxow to maturity, hoeing well between 

 them to give them free soil around and a start into 

 growth. 



Make successional sowings regularly one month 

 after the other until the early part of July, treating 

 the seedlings' in ■ all but the June and July sowings 

 as advised above. For those early sowings Black- 

 seeded Brown Cos and Cabbage varieties may be 

 sown, but for the latter any form of White 

 Cos of the Brighton or Paris Cos types should be 

 made. 



These last sowings must, however, be made so 

 thinly as to allow of the plants growing and stand- 

 ing till maturity where sown. To transplant them 

 will be to cause the plants to go hurriedly to seed. 

 When the seedling plants secured from these last 



Curled JIudive. 



deterrent and great aid. 



