DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



39 



tedes, and is ^own for its blanched shoots, which are 

 cooked like asparagus. 



Culture. — Cultivate in every£way like asparagus, 

 eiccept that the roots should not be set so deep and 

 should be covered in the spring with eight or ten inches 

 of coarse manure or litter, in order to blanch the shoots. 

 They form good roots at one year fsom the seed, and 

 may be cut when they have had two seasons' growth. 



KOHL RABI. 



Fr. Chou-rave . — Ger. Kohl-rabierber . 



The kohl rabi is a vegetable intermediate between the 

 cabbage and turnip, and combines the flavor of both. 

 The edible part is a turnip shaped bulb formed by the 

 swelling of the stem. When used for the table, this 

 should be cut when quite small, and is then ver>' tender 

 and delicate, but if allowed to reach its full size, it be- 

 comes tough and stringy. 



Culture. — For table use, sow early in the spring, in 

 drills fourteen inches apart, and thin to six inches, and 

 cultivate like turnips or early cabbage. 



Early White Vienna. — Dwarf, early. Bulb white, 

 handsome, firm ; leaves few and small. The best vari- 

 ety for table use. 



Large Green.— Hardy, quite late, and used for feed- 

 ing stock. Bulbs large, weighing eight to ten pounds ; 

 whitish green in color ; leaves large and numerous. 



Large Purple. — Nearly identical with the last except 

 in color, which is a bright purple, with the leaf stems 

 tinged with purple. 



LETTUCE. 



Fr. Laittce. — Ger. Lattich-salat . 



There is no vegetable which is more universally used 

 than this, and yet few people know how inviting and 

 appetizing it is when brought to the table fresh and un- 

 wilted, a condition in which it is rarely, if ever, found 

 in our markets, and which can only be secured by grow- 

 ing the plants in one's own garden. So we earnestly 

 urge all of our readers who can possibly do so, to grow 

 their own lettuce, if they do nothing else. 



Culture. — The quality of lettuce depends largely 

 upon rapid and vigorous growth ; and to secure this, we 

 need very rich^ iftellotu soil, frequent surface cultiva- 

 tion, and an abundant supply of water. For the earli- 

 est crop, sow under glass in March, and thin out the 

 plants so as to prevent their becoming crowded. If it is 

 intended to mature the plants under glass, keep the bed 

 quite close, give frequent and abundant watering with 

 liquid manure, and shade during very sunny daj's ; if 

 the plants are to be set in the open ground, give all the 

 air possible without freezing the plants, and " harden 

 off" by full exposure and withdrawal of water before 

 transplanting. The plants should be set out as soon as 

 a warm spot can be made very rich and mellow. At 

 the same time the plants are set out, sow seed in drills 

 fourteen inches apart, and thin out as wanted for the 

 table until they stand twelve inches apart. Give fre- 

 quent hoeings, and if possible, water during a dry time. 

 The Cos varieties should be tied up seven to ten days 

 before using, in order to blanch the inner leaves. 

 Early Tennis 



Early Tennis Ball 



Early White Vienna 

 Kohl Rabi. 



LEEK. 



London Flag Leek. 



Fr. Poireau. — Ger. Laiich. 



This is a branch of the onion family, is very hardy, 

 and by some is preferred to the onion. 



Culture.— Dig trenches eight inches deep, and make 

 the soil at the bottom as fine and rich (it can scarcely be 

 made too rich) as for onions. Sow the seed early in the 

 spring, and cover lightly with earth. Thin to six inches 

 apart, and when the plants are twelve inches high, 

 gather the leaves together, and fill the trench so as to 

 blanch the lower part of the plant. Dig, and store in 

 the cellar, or out of doors like celery, before severe 

 weather. 



London Flag. — Is the variety more generally culti- 

 vated in this country than any other ; is hardy, of good 

 quality, and takes its name from being preferred in the 

 Ixindon markets. 



Ball —(True Black 



UED.)— The best 



ty of head or 



igmg lettuce for 



inq- under glass. 



> . s hardy. Leaves 



dark green, thick, 



crisp and tender, 



forming under glass a small, compact head, but apt to 

 be loose and open when grown in the open air, unless 

 planted very early. 



Black-Seeded Simpson. — The leaves of this va- 

 riety are very large and form a compact mass, rather 

 than a distinct head. They have the quality of not 

 wilting quickly, ani being of a verj' light green color, 

 the variety is much liked by market gardeners for 

 forcing. 



Simpson's Early Curled. — One of the beit early 

 sorts for market or family use. Heads large, loose, all 

 the leaves tending to produce a head. Leaves beau- 

 tifully crimped, dark green, very tender and crisp. 

 Recommended for general cultivation. 

 Ferry's Early Prize Head. — The best lctt7'cc 

 known. It forvts a viammoth head, ami remains 



Simpson's Early Curled. 



