498 



THE CULTURE OE SALADS, 



its appearance^ so as to allow it to come to perfection in 

 the open air. Instead of planting the Laitue Gotte in a 

 frame^ it may be planted on a hotbed under cloches ar- 

 ranged in three rows,, three plants being placed under each^ 

 taking care to preserve them from frost in the usual way^ 

 and to give them air whenever the weather will allow of it. 

 The Laitue Gotte may also be planted in the open ground 

 under a cloche. The earth is well dug and raked^ and an 

 inch and a half of well decomposed stable manure thrown 

 over it, smoothed and flattened. The cloches are then 

 placed in alternate lines^ with three plants under each. 

 Wlien the plants have struck, air should be given them 

 whenever it is possible. The Laitue Gotte, when planted 

 in frames at the end of J anuary, arrives at perfection by the 

 end of March ; those planted under cloches in February^ at 

 the beginning of April ; and those planted under cloches or in 

 frames at the end of February, towards the middle of April. 



The Passion Lettuce — Laitue de la Passion as it is called 

 — is the only winter Lettuce grown in the neighbourhood of 

 Paris in the open air. It is sown from the 15th of August 

 to the 15th of September, according to the soil which is 

 to receive it, and is pricked out rather thinly in October. 

 It is generally left unprotected through the winter; how- 

 ever, it is prudent to defend it against severe frosts by 

 covering it with long Ktter, which is taken off and put on 

 again as it is required. This Lettuce is generally fit for 

 gathering towards Passion Week, from which cii'cumstance 

 it is called Passion Lettuce by the Parisians. 



Corn Salad or Mache, — This plant is very much used in 

 Paris, and is excellent as a salad. It is peculiarly agreeable 

 when mixed with a sprinkling of Celery. The culture is of 

 the simplest kind, the seeds being often sown amongst other 

 crops, which must be placed somewhat thinly, and the 

 Corn Salad is gathered before the other requii'es all the 

 ground. They begin to sow the Ronde variety about the 

 15th of August, and continue at intervals till the end of 

 October. That sown in August comes in for the autumn con- 

 sumption ; that sown in September for winter use ; and that 

 sown in October is used in spring. During hard frosts the 



