1064 THE BOOK OF GARDENING, 



its culture is only given the proper attention by exhibitors, as 

 fine, well-grown, and nicely blanched Leeks are always a telling 

 dish in a collection of vegetables. To procure the magnificent 

 specimens seen at horticultural exhibitions the seed should be 

 sown early in January, in boxes, in gentle heat. The seedlings 

 should be transferred into small pots when large enough, and 

 planted out afterwards the same as recommended for Celery, 

 adopting the same mode of blanching the growth, and giving 

 copious supplies of diluted liquid manure when the plants are 

 growing freely. For ordinary crops this seed may be sown in 

 drills early in March, and when the plants are about 6in. or 7in. 

 long they should be planted out in deeply-worked rich soil, using 

 a dibber to make a good deep hole ; at the bottom of the hole 

 the plant should be placed with a little soil to cover the roots. 

 As the plant grows, the hole should be gradually filled up with 

 soil, thus giving a much greater length of blanched stem than is 

 possible from plants put in on the level or surface. Dobbie's 

 Champion and the old Musselburgh are two excellent and 

 reliable varieties. 



Lettuce. 



Tastes differ as to which are the better Lettuce — Cos or 

 Cabbage ; but as a rule it is wise to grow some of both, 

 sowing first a little seed of. Early Paris Market (Cabbage) and 

 Paris Green (Cos) in January, in gentle heat, pricking out the 

 seedlings into boxes, and gradually hardening off to plant out in a 

 warm, sheltered border early in April. In the middle of March 

 a small bed may be sown, and as the plants get large enough 

 they should be planted out ift, apart in rich soil. This operation 

 of sowing and planting, if repeated every three weeks to the end 

 of May, will keep up a constant succession of tender, crisp 

 Lettuce. From the end of May to the end of July the seed 

 should be sown thinly in drills, and the plants thinned out, not 

 transplanted. If disturbed at the roots they are very liable to 

 bolt or to run to seed without hearting. Plenty of moisture at 

 the roots is essential to Lettuce in dry weather : the hearts are 

 then large, solid, and very crisp. Paris Green and Paris White 

 are splendid Cos varieties, while Continuity and Perfect Gem 

 are equally good Cabbage sorts. Hicks' Hardy Winter Cos and 

 All The Year Round Cabbage are two meritorious varieties for 

 sowing in August to stand the winter, and for early spring 

 cutting. j f b 



Several moth-caterpillars feed upon Lettuce, the most 

 conspicuous being those of the Common Tiger Moth. These 

 hairy caterpillars are taken by but very few birds, the Cuckoo 

 being the greatest friend to the gardener in getting rid of them. 

 Hand-picking must be resorted to. Surface Caterpillars are also 

 troublesome. These must be dealt with according to the 



