460 
every alternate one should be taken so as to 
allow those left to develop. Quick-hearting 
Lettuces may be forced successfully in pots 
placed near the glass in a house or frame with 
a temperature ranging from 55° to 65°. 
Lettuces are lable to be spoilt by frosts in 
the autumn. To save them they ought to be 
lifted and replanted in frames and pits, or in a 
border where they can be covered with benders 
and mats as often as need be. 
To save Seeds.—The finest specimens should 
be selected, those that heart readily, and are 
slow to run up, being preferred. In order 
that the sorts may be kept true, care should 
be taken that no two different varieties be 
allowed to seed near each other. The seeds 
which ripen first on the plant are the best. 
branchlets which first ripen their seeds should 
be cut off, and laid on a cloth in the sun. Or 
when the forward portion of the seeds is as near 
maturity as it will safely bear without shaking 
off, the plants should be carefully pulled up, 
and placed upright against a south wall, with 
a cloth under them, to perfect their ripening. 
The seeds retain their vitality three or four 
years, although none should be depended on 
without trial. Plants from seeds two years old 
heart more readily than those from one-year-old 
seeds. 
Insects, &c.—See chapter on this subject. 
Fruit and Seed Enemies.—Lettuce Fly. Leaf 
Enemies.—Cabbage Moth. Loot Enemies.—Daddy 
Long-legs, Dart Moth, Ghost Swift Moth, Let- 
tuce Root Aphis, Pot Herb Moth, Wireworm, 
Yellow Underwing Moth. 
The varieties of Lettuce are divided into two 
classes :—CABBAGE, with round depressed or 
spreading heads; and Cos, with erect conical 
heads. 
Cabbage Lettuces. 
All-the-year-round.—Hardy, compact, solid, and crisp- 
hearted. One of the oldest and most popular. 
Black-sceded Gotte.—Grows close to the ground. Leaves 
forming a compact white heart, about 4 inches in dia- 
meter, of excellent quality. A good forcer. 
Brown Dutch.—Resembles White Dutch, but the leaves 
are of a darker-green on the under side, and more brown 
where exposed. It hearts freely, and blanches white, 
crisp, and is of excellent quality. 
Commodore Nut.—An excellent early sort, and one of 
the best for general use. It is compact, hearts well, is 
crisp, and exceptionally good in flavour. Colour dark- 
green, 
Crépe.—Small, quickly forming a loose white heart. 
Golden Queen (fig. 1214).—A small early variety of a 
pleasing yellowish hue. It forms solid hearts, and does 
not soon run to seed. It is one of the quickest to mature. 
Hammersmith Hardy Green.—Leaves of thick substance, 
The | 
THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
dark-green, wrinkled, and concave. An excellent winter 
Lettuce, but soon runs to seed in summer. 
Large White Cabbage.—Leaves smooth, with an even 
surface; pale-green. Hearts large, compact, somewhat 
flattened; does not run quickly to seed in hot weather. 
A very good summer variety. 
Lnttle Gem (fig. 1215).—An excellent early variety, after 
the style of Tennis Ball but larger; matures early, and 
is crisp and sweet. 
Malta.—Leaves pale-green, smooth and soft, dentate, 
not curled on the margins. Hearts flat, compact, blanches 
white and tender, less crisp than the Neapolitan, to which, 
however, on account of its peculiarly soft texture, it is by 
some preferred, especially for stewing. 
Neapolitan.—Leaves much curled on the edges. Hearts 
large, firm, white, crisp, and of excellent quality. The 
best of the summer Lettuces. Does not run to seed until 
late. 
Tennis Ball.—Leaves dark-green, slightly curled; 
forming a small compact heart, blanching white and crisp. 
If sown in August it will come in after Hammersmith 
Hardy Green. 
Tom Thumb (fig. 1213).—An old favourite, hearts well, 
is very hardy, stands drought, and is as good in appear- 
ance as in flavour. May be had almost all the year round. 
Versailles.—Leaves paler green than those of the Nea- 
politan, heart not so firm; yet it is white, crisp, and of 
excellent quality. 
White Dutch.—Larger than Hardy Hammersmith Green. 
Leaves roundish, yellowish-green, tinged with reddish- 
brown at the top; hearts readily, and is hardy. Witha 
little protection in winter it is very good for spring use. 
ig. 1216.—Cabbage Lettuce—White Silesian. 
White Silesian (fig. 1216).— Leaves undulated, pale- 
green, tinged with reddish-brown; hearts large, moder- 
ately firm, and of very good quality. 
Cos Lettuces. 
Artichoke-leaved.—Leaves long, upright, narrow, much 
cut or jagged, the outside ones brownish-green; the heart- 
leaves blanch white, some of the midribs being slightly 
tinged with pale-crimson; very tender, crisp, and excellent, 
even without tying; is very hardy, and will continue to 
furnish excellent salads when other Lettuces are either 
destroyed by frost, or have acquired a bitterness that 
renders them unfit for use. For late produce it should 
be sown in June and July. 
Brown Cos (Bath Cos).—A hardy sort, the best for 
standing the winter. It grows toa large size, hearts well 
with a little tying up, and is crisp and excellent. The 
leaves are brown, but the heart, with tying, can be ren- 
dered white. The black-seeded variety is generally Pe 
ferred. This is also good as a summer Lettuce. 
