THE CULTURE OF SALADS. 



497 



of tlie former to one of the latter. The Cos lettuces thus 

 grown may be gathered at the beginning of February. 

 After they are gathered the beds are planted a second time^ 

 and towards the end of February or the beginning of March^ 

 that is to say, when the severe cold is no longer to be 

 dreaded, a single plant is pricked out in the little spaces 

 between the cloches. As soon as the Cos and the Petite 

 Noire lettuces planted beneath the bell glass are gathered 

 these latter are used for the second crop. By this method 

 they may be gathered about three weeks after. At 

 the same time warm borders on the south side of walls 

 are also planted with Cos lettuces. Ten or twelve rows 

 are drawn according to the size of the border, and 

 planted with Cos lettuces about twelve or fourteen 

 inches apart. After this crop has been planted out a few 

 ■Radishes, Leeks, or Carrots are sown between the Lettuces. 

 Generally speaking, these Cos lettuces are fit to gather 

 towards the end of April or the beginning of May. Some 

 market gardeners also sow Cos during the month of August, 

 which, planted out in hotbeds under bell glasses, are gene- 

 rally fit for gathering in December and January. 



Laitue Gotte. — This Lettuce cannot be raised in the same 

 way as the Petite Noire, because it will not come to per- 

 fection without plenty of air. It is not so early as the 

 Petite Noire, but is much esteemed, growing larger and 

 more perfect than its congener. The Laitue Gotte is sown 

 from the 20th to the 25th of October, on a sloping bed, 

 and the same method of after-treatment is adopted as in 

 forcing the Petite Noire, although it is less damaged by 

 frost. Being a later kind, it may be left in the sloping 

 bed until the Petite Noire is all gathered, when it may be 

 used to fill the vacant places in the hotbeds. The manure 

 of the hotbeds should be left undisturbed, but the soil in 

 the frames should be well forked and made even. Towards 

 the end of January or beginning of February the L. Gotte 

 should be planted in the frames. It should have plenty of 

 air, whenever the weather will allow it, by propping up the 

 back of the light. If the Lettuce does not heart early the 

 light should be removed as soon as the fine weather makes 



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