36o 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



Puy Green Lentil. — A very distinct kind, with small seed, 

 which is only about J in. in diameter, but very thick, and pale 

 green, spotted and marbled with dark green. This variety is 

 almost exclusively grown in the departments of Haute-Loire and 

 Cantal, where it is highly esteemed both for table use and as green 

 fodder for cattle. 



Small Winter Lentil. — This variety is chiefly grown in the 

 northern and eastern districts of France, and is sown in autumn, 

 either among corn or, more commonly, by itself. It is seldom used 

 as fodder for cattle, as the seed is highly esteemed for table use, 

 many persons preferring it to that of the Large Yellow kind. It is 

 small in size, thick, and of a rather deep reddish colour, which 

 distinguishes it at first sight. 



Small March Lentil. — The seed of this kind resembles that 

 of the Large Yellow Lentil in colour and shape, but is only about 

 half the size. It is sown in spring, like the Large Yellow variety. 

 The name Small Queen Lentil {Lentille d la Reine) is sometimes 

 given to this kind, and also to the preceding one. Both varieties 

 are very highly esteemed for table use, on account of their 

 delicate flavour and the remarkable thinness of the skin of the seed. 



Auvergne Lentil, or One-flowered Tare {Ervum monanthos, L. 

 LegumtnoscB, Lentille d' Auvergne). — Native of Southern Europe. — 

 Annual. — A small plant, with slender stems, which require sup- 

 port. Leaves compound, formed of numerous very small, oval 

 leaflets ; flowers axillary, solitary, whitish, and long-stalked, 

 succeeded by broad flat pods, each containing two or three seeds. 

 The plant will grow about 2 or 2 J ft. high, if the stems have some- 

 thing to support them ; otherwise they sprawl on the ground. 

 Seed irregularly rounded, tolerably convex, intermediate in shape 

 between the seed of a Lentil and that of a Vetch, of a gray-brown 

 colour, streaked or marbled with black, floury, and rather agreeable 

 in flavour. Its germinating power lasts for three years. The 

 seed may be sown in autumn or in spring. The plant is much 

 more frequently grown to furnish green fodder than for its seeds, 

 and is mostly sown along with Rye or Oats, which furnish a support 

 for its climbing stems. The seed is sometimes eaten boiled, like 

 Lentils. 



LETTUCE 



Lactuca sativa, L. Compositce. 



French, Laitue cultivee. German, Lattich, Flemish and Dutch, Latouw. Danish, 

 Salat. Italian, Lattuga. Spanish, Lechuga. Portuguese, Alface. 



Native of India or Central Asia. — Annual. — The origin of the 

 cultivated Lettuce is not known for certain, any more than the 

 time when it was first introduced into Europe ; neither can we be 

 sure that the ancients knew anything about it. However, the great 



