20 



THE 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



January 8, 1898. 



Vegetables for Exhibition. 



LETTUCE. 



Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) without doubt forms one of the most important 

 crops of our kitchen garden. It is universally prized as a salad, especially 

 during the hot summer months, and during that season very little skill 

 and attention is required to bring it to perfection. But in many establish- 

 ments lettuce of some kind is required every day throughout the year, 

 and to keep up a regular supply much care and forethought are 

 necessary, especially in cold, low, and wet situations. Lettuce may be 

 grouped into two classes, the Cabbage and the Cos varieties, and opinions 

 differ as to which is the best. The Cos lettuce, both Brown and White, 

 is much more solid and crisp than the cabbage, and for that reason 

 is more generally preferred. On the other hand, some people have a 

 sp ecial liking for the soft, silky forms of the cabbage lettuce. When, 

 however, constant supply is expected, both types should be grown. 



Lettuce will thrive in almost any kind of soil, but to have it in 

 perfection the ground should be deeply dug or trenched, and made 

 rich with good farmyard manure. The first sowings should be made 

 early in February in shallow boxes, of both Cos and Cabbage kinds, and 

 raised under glass. Very little aitificial heat is required to raise the 

 plants, a cold frame, providing the frost is kept out, will be sufficient. 

 But the most suitable place at this season is an early vinery or peach 

 house just being started. As soon as the plants are big enough to 

 handle they should be pricked out three inches apart into another box 

 in a light sandy compost. They should be kept as near the glass as 

 possible, and air must be admitted as the weather will permit, to keep the 

 plants from becoming drawn and weakly. Gradually harden the seedlings 

 off, and select a warm sheltered spot in which to plant out as soon as the 

 weather is favourable. The Cos varieties should be allowed a distance of 

 one foot apart each way, and the cabbage kind nine inches apart between 

 ♦1^ ~i"~*<- — : ~~ u ~~ r " " This distance should always 



the plants and ten inches from row to row. w 



be allowed, as nothing is gained by overcrowding the plants. 



Sowings 



should be made every ten days during spring and summer, and treated 

 in the same way. By the end of March outside sowings shculd be com- 

 menced, and the earliest sowing should be made on a south border in 

 shallow drills, and the beds thinned, when the plants are large enough, to 

 the distance before advised. A few selections from each thinning should 

 be replanted, as they will just follow the permanent plants, and ensure a 

 constant supply. A capital place for growing good lettuce during summer 

 is on the celery ridges. They will in no way interfere with the celery 

 cropland the lettuce being somewhat raised, plenty of light and 



reach 



Small sowings of suitable varieties should be made during Septem- 



protection of some kind 

 can be readily afforded them in severe weather. These sowings will 

 prove of great value during winter and spring, and the smallest plants 

 will generally stand the severest weather if suitable kinds are selected 

 Lb meet the demands, when winter salads are required, it will be 

 necessary to give protection to some of the later sowings by plant- 

 ing them in cold frames, or late, light, peach cases. They may be 

 planted closer together than advised for outside planting to economise 

 the space, but at the same time overcrowding must be avoided, or during 

 severe weather, when the lights require to be kept closed, or damp will 

 nlay sad havoc with them. Should the supply by any means be found to 

 e running short during winter sow some of the forcing kinds in heat, and 

 prick out the secdlmgs three inches apart, and grow in a gentle 

 heat as near the glass as possible. These will prove invaluable, and 

 should be cut o like mustard and cress ; one or two kinds I have tried 

 answer especially well to the treatment. The later sowing, wintered in 

 cold frames or otherwise, should be planted out very early in spring in 

 the most sheltered and wannest spot available, as soon as the weather is 

 in the least degree favourable, and if this is done no break can occur 



fc.nem.es to the lettuce are not very numerous, the most troublesome 

 at all seasons of the year, especially in showery weather, are slugs, and 

 when these are very numerous means must be taken to keep them from 

 ravagmg the crop There is nothing more distasteful to' slugs than 

 finely sifted coal ashes, and during showery weather these are not washed 



to be used for the our- 



pose. Small birds are sometimes troublesome, but these are easily keot 

 at bay by stretchmg netting over the beds. Y P 



w ,n e j; e n er da . SS f S , are I >l P vided for single dishes of vegetables lettuce 



SsSSLSS^rfSa^ nea , Hy a,WayS W * U ^tested £ 

 regard* numbers. Hut as a rule a large number of the specimens staged 



are very indifferent, and stand not the least chance of winning Worth- 

 less kinds are frequently met with, and some examples are pi Mmeir best or 



som^n ,ent,y<,eV r l0|,ed J - T ° * ,roduce "*"v ""t-class exh bition leUuce 

 something more than ordinary attention is 'required. The best results 

 will accrue it treated as follows: Narrow trenches shoul be taken out 



r^a W fork an Th?!2 *S*£ IfF aml thC b ° tt0m ^orougtly broken 

 top w th In f ro , Pr f ^ be fllled t0 withi » thr <* inches of the 



wi h 1 ?. l en farmyard manure, and the remaining three inches 



"a r^ 0 ta „4^ n foT w -fh ch sl r ld be made as 



or s, before sowing the seed s^n ^ . Th ^ s b «t prepared a week 



see l scattered thinly afonT^ foS STlfiSS a " d the 

 the seed with tho n U n J sufficient soil should be drawn over 



"and"* *hoU' ? J' hlch , sh ° K U,d bC S P Hnk,ed a *»ti«5 



must be given' with a fine roS liftS^ s "TJiJ 00 * , WatCrin * 



troublesome, and when once thZ g POt ' Smal1 b ! rds are often ver y 



generally make a clean sweep of I CO , mmence . to seed they 



protection, being very ne v , n JL> Ca KUard , S " lfl found the ,,est 



j • . *\ s soon as the plants show signs of making - L * 



oe commenced, which should only be 



plant 



done 



advanced one size larger thin out to the proper distance, which should bp 

 for Cos varieties not less than thirteen inches, and for Cabbage kinds on 

 foot. A few from this thinning should be carefully transplanted in other 

 prepared trenches. As these will follow those in the original rows and 

 other sowings are made about every ten days, the exhibitor will be prettv 

 certain of having good specimens at almost any date. 



All Cos varieties, both brown and white, whether self-folding or not 

 require to be tied up and blanched. Tying should be done twice 

 and always when the plants are perfectly dry. The first band should 

 be put on about a fortnight previous to the show date. Use broad pieces 

 of bast, and tie the first loosely round the plant about half way up, so as 

 to check the growth. The second tying should be made a week later 

 nearer the top of the plant, drawing the whole of the leaves tightly 

 together without bruising them. Should the weather be hot and dry the 

 plants should be mulched with half-decayed horse manure, and kept 'well 

 supplied with both clear water and liquid manure. In competition the 

 white Cos varieties, if presented in good condition, will in nearly all cases 

 receive the awards. A perfect lettuce should be full grown, of large size 

 heavy and solid when handled, and should stand the test of cutting, which 

 is invariably done in close competition, when the hearts should be found 

 quite near the bottom, and the inside leaves thoroughly blanched. Two 

 classes are sometimes scheduled, one for Cos and one for Cabbage lettuce 

 and this should be more generally encouraged, as the latter kind stands 



no chance where the Cos kinds are well presented. 



Cabbage kinds 



should be large, perfectly solid, and bear cutting open. Lettuce in a 

 collection of vegetables, unless an unusually large number is required is 

 in my opinion a weak dish, and counts but little ; but for a mixed 

 ornamental collection both kinds of lettuce should be staged, and in a 

 collection of salad lettuce should form the first and most prominent item 

 The number generally required is three of each kind, and they are best 

 lifted late in the evening with a fork. The roots should be thoroughly 

 washed and left on, some damp clean moss being neatly bound round 

 them to keep them fresh and crisp during the next day. When staged 

 a sprinkle over with water will also be of great assistance. Two should 

 be placed at the bottom and one at the top, and all three should be as 

 nearly alike as possible, with the head towards the front. If the exhibitor 

 has a long way to travel, much care in packing is necessary. The lettuces 

 should be wrapped in soft paper and placed on the top of the vegetable 

 hamper, or the leaves will be much bruised and damaged in transit. 



The best Cos kinds I know of for exhibition are : Carter's Giant White 

 Cos, Sutton's Superb White Cos, Sutton's Mammoth White, and Veitch's 

 Superb White Cos, while All the Year Round, Veitch's Perfect Gem, and 

 Sutton's Favourite are good cabbage kinds. Other serviceable varieties 

 for general use are : Improved Black-Seeded Brown Cos, very hardy ; 

 Hick's Hardy White Cos, an invaluable kind for autumn sowings, being 

 very hardy and of excellent flavour ; and the old Hardy Green Hammer- 

 smith, which still remains one of the best, if not the very best cabbage 

 kind for winter use. If planted in a fairly dry sheltered position, it will 

 come through the severest winter unharmed. Carter's Harbinger for 

 forcing is a distinct and valuable kind for the purpose, and should be 



grown by all ;where winter salads are in great demand. 



Hon 



E. Beckett. 



Profitable Cucumber Culture. 



In answer to Mr. Turner's inquiries which appeared in the Gardeners 

 Magazine (page no), I think I can satisfy him with regard to the 

 profitable growing of cucumbers. In giving full particulars of the 

 starting of my plants, and the space occupied, the prices received for 

 each month throughout the season, as I sell all ai wholesale prices after 

 supplying the Hall, which is a very large establishment. With regard to 

 discarding cucumbers for tomatos, my opinion is that where there is 

 a good market for cucumbers they well pay as well as tomatos. For 

 instance, where early tomatos are wanted they are more liable to disease 

 than the cucumber, and require much amount of care and attention. 

 1 ne camel-hair brush must be kept regularly at work or your fruit will 

 not set freely, but cucumbers do not require this treatment. The chief 

 point to be considered in relation to tomatos is that if you have a 

 quantity of fruit on hand they can be kept for a week or more when sale 

 slacl 5 wlt hout being deteriorated ; this cannot be done with cucumbers. 

 1 planted my cucumbers on February 20, in a span-roof house forty- 

 eight teet by twelve feet, with twenty plants of Sutton's Improved 

 \i um'viv 1 gave them the treatment described in Gardeners' 

 h,Ar'i wu ° ctober 3o, page 617. Readers will now be able to 



R ,! e i r r M ly treatment or the treatment given in Gardeners' 

 magazine of November "'^ me ° .... 



J 3> P a g e 7IO, is most profitable. In the first 



rwla^o I J_, . . , J ' r "ft ~ / *~» pivuiauic. in luc nisi 



KL\? consider horse droppings quick enough in its action, 

 ™ the f e , X,ra a T Unt of Iabour in collecting this off the roads; 

 .TnaKi. ♦ ' a Wai ) ted t0 use horse-droppings from the roads I should be 

 ohfJr,;™, V°' ° r they are not obtainable here. There is also an 



ho ,£« . r " SC as the odour would be most ""Pleasant in the 



.watering. The extra expense in the labour of collecting 



Knefir1»Wn m i X ' ng i the J iquid WOuId a,S0 be considerable. Soot is 



worth xS rl the r- plan , tS lf used occ asionally. I find that five shillings' 

 wkhnn? £ f S Fert,llser or Peruvian guano will carry this crop through 



be8innmgtfp r ofit UnP CaSant "** Saving ° f lab ° Ur 1 COnsider tne 



ADrilTrnf n n C , etI f ° U ! ting fruit on the 3 rd of April : during the month of 

 «E at * - VL T at , 6s - P er d0z - ; 52o at 4 s. per doz. ; June, 



III doz 3 si ; July ' 507 at 3 s - Per doz. ; August, 195 at A 6d 



do ioJX % r > 442 at 2S - 6d doz - i October, 78 at 2s. 6d. per 



think i r 2t ? of the b est of the fruit, which makes a total of 2,6.8. 



find ? far m,L n U fi?M WOU,d try my treatme nt of cucumbers he would 

 nnd it far more profitable, with a great saving of labour. 



The Gardens, Castle Hall. T. DAVIES. 



