THE CULTURE OF SALADS. 



491 



they can be readily covered by the bell glasses -wben the 

 time comes that growth is checked in the open air. It 

 should be added that the ground chosen is thoroughly rich, 

 light, and well and deeply stirred, and the Lettuces are sown 

 at intervals of a fortnight or so, so as to secure a succession, 

 and to provide for the wants of the various kinds. The 

 plants put out in September for the early and mid-autumn 

 supply may not require to be covered if the weather be fine ; 

 and if they do, the glasses are tilted up a little as before 

 described. But when the sun begins to fail and the cold 

 rains to check growth, about the end of October, then the 

 crop to be cut in the following month must be covered ; 

 and when towards Christmas the frost begins to take hold 

 of the ground, the glasses must be firmly pressed down, and 

 a deposit of leaves and litter placed around them. 



Fig. 292. 



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Sloping Bed for three rows of Cloches. 



Thus, while everything else is at rest in the grip of ice, 

 the plants will be kept perfectly free from frost, receiving 

 abundant light from above, and growing as fresh as April 

 leaves. Of course a deeper layer of this surrounding litter 

 will be necessary in case of severe frost than in early winter. 

 Covering them a little more than half-way up with a rather 

 compact body of leaves and litter, eff'ectually secures them 

 from sharp frosts. When very severe frosts occur, mats 

 made of straw are spread over the tops of the glasses ; and 

 should heavy falls of snow occur while these mats are on, 

 they will enable the cultivator to carry it bodily away from 

 the bed or beds ; for it should not be allowed to melt on 

 the beds or in the alleys between. In late spring the cloche 

 is not required, nor is it for any except those crops that 

 require artificial assistance. Thus the March and April 



