Oct.] 



THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



239 



and protected during winter in a similar manner. Peas thus 

 treated will come into fruit sooner by some days than such as 

 stand out all winter, and, with little trouble or protection, will 

 stand the severest frosts. 



SOWING AND TRANSt»LANTING LETTUCES. 



The lettuce-plants raised from the seeds sown in August or 

 Deginning of September will be now stout plants. These 

 should be now planted out where they are to stand the winter. 

 A dry sheltered warm border should be prepared for them, by 

 being neatly dug, in which the plants should be planted eight 

 or ten inches apart. If the winter be mild, they will come into 

 use in December and J anuary, and continue good longer, if occa- 

 sionally sheltered in bad weather. Sloping banks are formed by 

 those persons, who depend much upon this crop during winter 

 and early in spring, upon which the plants are planted rather 

 thickly together, as they will be afterwards gradually thinned 

 for use. In damp situations, and in cold heavy soils, this is 

 a good practice, as these plants would do little good without 

 this or a similar protection. In light sandy soils and warm 

 situations, the hardier kinds of lettuce will stand most winters 

 without any protection whatever. The plants for late autumn 

 use should not be transplanted, but left where they grew, to 

 be cut as they arrive at a proper size. They should, however, 

 have the earth well stirred up about their roots, and all weeds 

 and decayed leaves removed, as well as all useless plants^ 

 and thinned out to nine or ten inches apart. Where frames 

 and glasses, or hand or bell-glasses are to spare, they may 

 be now filled up with lettuce-plants, both of the August and 

 September sowings. The larger of the former sowing may 

 be forwarded in size, as the glasses can be kept upon them 

 when necessary, never, however, omitting to give plenty of 

 air to prevent them from being drawn up weak. The plants 

 of the latter sowing should not be covered, unless in very cold 

 or wet weather; the less protected that they are in autumn, 

 the better will they stand the winter. Lettuce may also be 

 planted at the bottom of the garden-walls, where they often 

 survive the winter and come into use in spring, when those in 



