THE GROWING OF VEGETABLES 191 



is to start the seeds iu early September, leaving the plants in 

 the drill rows until spring. Protect during winter weather 

 with leaves or other litter. They may be thinned or trans- 

 planted as early in the spring as possible. Leek is used for 

 the same purposes as garlic, and by the same people. 



Lettuce is well adapted to use in the school garden. It 

 is the most popular of all American salad plants. The crop 

 can be produced at any time of the year, and within a very few 

 weeks. The following plans are suggested : 



(1) In early fall, when school first opens, sow the seed in 

 open ground and mature the crop there. 



(2) Later in the fall, sow the seed in a coldframe and 

 mature the crop in the coldframe before Christmas. 



(3) In late fall, sow the seed in coldframes or window 

 boxes and transplant to a hotbed, maintaining a cool tempera- 

 ture until matured. 



(4) Start seed in a hotbed in late winter or early spring, 

 transplant or thin the plants in the drill rows and mature 

 them in the hotbed. 



(5) In early spring start the seeds in window boxes or a 

 hotbed and transplant to the open garden as soon as the 

 ground can be worked. For this purpose, the seedlings should 

 be kept in a very cool condition for a week or so before trans- 

 planting. This is called " hardening off." 



(6) As soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, 

 start seeds in the open and either transplant the seedlings 

 or thin them in drill rows, leaving them there until mature. 



There are three main types of lettuce, the loose-growing, 

 head lettuce, and Cos, or upright lettuce. Head lettuce is 

 most popular for salad purposes in America, and this type 

 should always be thinned or transplanted to six or ten inches 

 so it will not crowd. Cos lettuce is probably the most popular 

 form in Europe. It requires blanching to be of best quality, 

 otherwise it is used merely for garnishing. It is better suited 

 to summer growth than the other forms. 



