LETTUCE. 



233 



mellow soil enriched Avith well rotted manure. Do not 

 tliink of getting good heads on poor ground. Few of the 

 Cos lettuces, except the white Cos and Paris, do well here, 

 and fine cabbage lettuce is less trouble to raise, and good 

 enough for any table. Lettuce may be sown in October 

 and November, and again from January to April. That 

 sown in the fall, except the Cos varieties, will come on 

 earlier, but is not so good as the heads from the spring 

 sowing. Sow thinly in drills eight inches apart. An ounce 

 of seed will produce about ten thousand plants. Let the 

 seed be very lightly covered, and if dry weather, press the 

 earth upon it by walking over it on a board, or patting it 

 with the back of the spade. Beds about four feet wide 

 are most convenient. If the lettuce comes up too thickly 

 in the drills it must be thinned, as the plants begin to 

 crowd, to two inches apart. Transplant into the ground, 

 where it is to remain when the plants show four leaves. 

 The Early Cabbage may be planted nine inches apart each 

 way; but the other varieties Tvillnot do with less than afoot. 

 The soil into which they are to be removed to head must be 

 rich, light, and mellow. Transplant in moist weather with 

 a trowel, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Water 

 the plants until established. Eabbits are very fond of let- 

 tuce, but can be kept off by dusting the young plants with 

 ashes. After the young plants get established, give them 

 deep and frequent hoeings ; and if you sowed good seed 

 there can be but little danger of your not being rewarded 

 with beautiful crisp heads. The October sowing should 

 be of the Butter and Brown Dutch and Cos varieties. This 

 will yield small salad in mild weather through the winter, 

 besides plants for early heads. A second sowing of these 

 should be made in February. The later kinds may be put 

 in as late as April with success. If no lettuce has been 

 sown in October or November, for heading early in the 



