244 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH, 



heads will not grow on poor ground. Lettuce may be 

 sown in autumn for six or eight weeks before the hard 

 frosts come on, and transplanted into frames for winter 

 cutting, or, protected with a little straw, it will stand 

 through the winter in the open air and be planted out for 

 heading in early spring. Hammersmith and Paris Green 

 Cos are best for autumn sowing, and at the South yield 

 small salad in mild weather through the winter. A sec- 

 ond sowing should be made at the first opening of spring, 

 and then at intervals until the summer's heat comes on. 



If there has been no fall sowing, a little should be sown 

 the latter part of winter under glass, for which select 

 Hammersmith or Early Cabbage. Give it plenty of air, 

 but keep it covered nights and cold days, and as the 

 weather grows mild, leave off the glass altogether a little 

 while before setting out in the open air. Fall-sown But- 

 ter lettuce may also be transplanted under glass at nine 

 inches apart, and the table be kept supplied in this way 

 with fresh heads all winter. Plenty of air must be given 

 them, and they should be covered in freezing weather only. 

 For a fall heading, a crop can be sown at the same time 

 with turnips, in a shady situation, which being transplant- 

 ed, will give good heads. The fall and summer sowings 

 do much better if thinned to a suitable distance, and al- 

 lowed to head where they stand, as lettuce plants are im- 

 patient of transplanting in hot weather; but they may be 

 safely moved if shielded by sun shades. 



Lettuce should be sown 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 



