LETTUCE, 213 
with earth raised.a few inches. Harly in the following spring 
prepare a bed similar to that intended for asparagus, dig- 
ging the soil at least fifteen inches deep. Set out the plants, 
about two feet apart, the crown of each root being placed 
about two inches below the level of the bed. The beds 
will continue to produce as long as those of asparagus, 
and like this are greatly improved by applications of salt 
and brine. The plants should not be allowed to go to 
seed. This vegetable is in season from Christmas to 
April. 
Salads, &c. 
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a hardy annual, but of 
what country it is a native is unknown. Some suppose it 
‘to be a seminal variety of the native L. virosa, a poisonous 
plant, “which,” says Professor Lindley, “would not be 
more remarkable than the fact that the indigenous celery is 
one of our strongest poisons.” Besides its well-known 
uses, it may be mentioned that the late Dr. Dundan, Senior, 
of Edinburgh, prepared from its milky juice a medicine 
denominated Lactucarium, similar in its action to opium, 
but capable of being administered in cases where idiosyn- 
cratic repugnance rendered that powerful drug inadmissi- 
ble. There are two principal varieties, the Cos or upright, 
and the round-headed or Cabbage lettuce. The subvarie- 
ties are numerous; we may mention the following :— 
Upright. Round. 
Black-seeded Cos, ” White Cabbage, 
Bath Cos, é Brown Dutch, 
White Cos, Marseilles, 
Crown Cos, Grand Admirable. 
By proper care, fresh lettuce may be had throughout the 
