362 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



2. Spring Lettuces, which head rapidly when sown immedi- 

 ately after winter. 



3. Summer Lettuces, which are usually larger than the 

 spring kinds, and do not run to seed too fast in hot weather. 



Although this division is not very precise, we shall adopt it 

 here, as affording a means of indicating the mode of culture suitable 

 for each variety, without falling into endless repetitions. We shall 

 accordingly first point out the treatment suitable for winter 

 Lettuces in general, after which we shall enumerate and describe 

 the varieties which come under that head, doing afterwards the 

 same in the case of the spring and summer varieties. 



CABBAGE LETTUCE 



Lactuca capitata, D.C. 



French, Laitues pommees. German, Kopfsalat. Flemish and Dutch, Kropsalad. Italian, 

 Lattuga a cappucio. Spanish, Lechuga acogollada. Portuguese, Alface repolhada. 



I. Winter Varieties 



These are sown from the middle of August to the middle of 

 September. About the end of October, when the plants form a 

 rosette 2 to 3 in. in diameter and have each five or six pretty strong 

 leaves, they are planted out permanently in as warm and favourably 

 situated a position as possible — preferably at the bottom of a 

 south wall or in a thoroughly well-drained bed. In very frosty 

 weather the plants should be protected with straw mats, which 

 are to be taken off when the weather becomes mild. Winter 

 Lettuces are not injured by snow — so far from it, that we some- 

 times see varieties which are not very hardy pass through the 



winter in safety when well 

 covered by it. In February 

 the growth of the winter 

 Lettuces becomes more active, 

 and the heads begin to form 

 at the end of April or early 

 in May, the plants continuing 

 to yield for six weeks to 

 two months, until the spring 

 Lettuces come in. 



Madeira Large Winter 

 Cabbage Lettuce ( White- 

 seeded). — This variety, when 

 young, has the leaves very much rounded and entire in outline, 

 the blade being slightly twisted and faintly crimped in the lower 

 part, of a rather dark green, with brown spots interspersed. 

 The colour becomes much Hghter as the plant increases in 



Madeira Large Winter Cabbage Lettuce 

 (|- natural size). 



