494 



THE CULTURE OF SALADS. 



sions of the number of cloches it is intended to sow made 

 upon it. One cloche will prove sufficient for a private 

 garden at one sowing ; a few suffice for the wants of a 

 market garden. The Lettuce seed is then regularly sown 

 within the ring formed by the impression of the large bell 

 glass, and covered with a very slight coat of thoroughly 

 rotten manure — a substance that is always used in quan- 

 tities in Paris market gardens. Then the cloche is put on^ 

 the rim being gently pressed into the light,, dark manure 

 mould. Shade is given when the sun shines strong in 

 early autumn^ but air is never given. A peculiarity of this 

 excellent Lettuce is that it grows best without air. 



As soon as the seedlings are strong enough to transplant, 

 they are pricked out, about thirty under each cloche. This 

 ti'ansplantation is done at a much earlier stage than is the 

 case with us. They do not let them wait to get crowded, 

 and then transplant them, tall and drawn, into their places, 

 but take them up gently and without disturbing the roots, 

 soon after the cotyledons are developed and when the first 

 leaves are beginning to appear. In transplanting, a sur- 

 facing of very fine and thoroughly rotten manure is placed 

 over the earth to the depth of an inch, and the earth is 

 often thrown into beds sloping to the south, so that the 

 cloches may enjoy the full sun. T^liether the beds are flat 

 or sloping, they are wide enough for thi'ee ranges of cloches 

 placed in a quincunx manner, so that very little space is lost 

 between them. Before transplanting, the ground is marked 

 by the impression of a cloche, and the little seedlings are 

 inserted by the finger in the soft mould. Instead of getting 

 drawn, as would be the case if they were left together for a 

 longer period, the plants spread out into neat and firm little 

 rosettes, their leaves lying close to the ground, for the Light 

 comes freely through the clean cloche, and there is not a 

 sign of ilL-health or speck of dust to be seen on the leaves. 

 The first crop mentioned is not a general one, as there is 

 abundance of open-air salad to be had about the time these 

 will be cut ; but the strongest batch of those that in 

 September were in the rosette stage, under the cloches, 

 are transplanted into their final places before the 15th of 



