SECT. XV. OF ESCULENTS. 227 



run up fo foon for feed as the other forts, and are there- 

 fore proper for late fummer ufe. To forward early 

 fpring fown ones, a flight kct-bed may he made, and by 

 all means ought to be fome -time in February, if thofe 

 that were to have flood the winter-are cut off. When 

 thefe plants are an inch high, they fhould be pricked out, 

 four inches afunder, upon another gentle notched ; and 

 vfhen they meet, or are four or five inches high, draw 

 every other to plant out in open ground, and let the reft 

 remain to cabbage. 



Winter lettuces, that are forward, are more likely to 

 be deftroyed than the fmailer, as the wet hangs in them ; 

 let them be covered with frames, hand-glaffes, or hoops 

 and mats ; but covered plants mud have a great deal of 

 air at all opportunities. Winter lettuces require a dry 

 foil and fituation, and a wet one is helped by planting 

 them on hillocks, which is a metho.d that frequently 

 faves them from rotting : Thofe in the open ground are 

 often deftroyed by grubs lurking about the roots, which 

 evil fhould be feen to, if fufpefted. 



To have fine winter lettuces, fome of the forwardeft 

 may be taken up with balls of earth about them in 

 November, and planted at nine or ten inches diftance, 

 on a fome what ftrong hot-bed, which, as foon as the 

 great heat is certainly over, fhould be covered with fix 

 or feven inches of dry mould for the purpofe, but give 

 a little water juft about the roots : Line the bed when 

 it gets cool. Lettuces muft be well attended to ; to 

 give them plenty of air, pick off dead leaves, cover on 

 nights, &c. Frequently ftir the furface of the mould, 

 and give water as occafion may dictate. The cabbage 

 lettuce fucceeds beft in hot-beds. 



Tying lettuces with bafs, from the middle upwards, 

 when about three parts grown, will fomewhat help 

 them to whiten and cabbage ; but let this bufinefs be 

 done carefully. Somz gardeners do not think it worth 

 while to practice it ; and indeed, right good forts (as 

 to feed) will cabbage themfelves, and open ones it is 



he of 



