3S 
THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 
seeds, and it is desirable to begin in February, by sowing a 
pan or two of Paris White Cos and Berlin White Cabbage. 
If placed in a gentle heat these will soon start and grow 
freely. As soon as it is possible to place them out-of-doors, 
if only for an hour in the middle of the day, let them have 
the advantage of sunshine and air. It is desirable to prick 
out a few on to a bed of light rich earth in a frame, and give 
them attention to promote growth without keeping so close 
as to make them long-legged. These will come in early and 
will be good, provided the lights are removed at every oppor- 
tunity to expose the plants fully, and in warm weather left 
off altogether. The remainder must be carefully hardened 
by frequent exposure, and be planted out on a piece of nice 
mellow ground that has been well manured, as soon as the 
weather is favourable in the month of April ; and during 
bright sunshine, or in case of frost at night, cover with empty 
flower-pots for the first ten days or so. When enjoying suf- 
ficient warmth, lettuces should have abundance of water. 
Another sowing should be made in March, in pans, and 
this sowing will not want heat, but should be placed in a 
frame or greenhouse ; such varieties as Paris White Cos, All 
the Year Bound, Neapolitan, and Wheeler s Tom Thumb are 
the most useful. These must be hardened with care and 
planted out at the end of April, and will pretty well take 
care of themselves. The cos varieties should have the richest 
ground and a situation where it will be handy to water them, 
but the Tom Thumbs will do on comparatively poor soil and 
will want but little water, but will supply charming little 
round hearts, very close and dry, and of the best possible 
texture to mingle with oil and vinegar in the salad bowl. 
Early in March, and thenceforward every two or three 
weeks until the end of June, small sowings should be made 
in the open ground where the plants are to stand. Hence 
the sowing should be done with care to put in the least 
amount of seed possible, for these are not to be transplanted , 
As crops come off it is easy to find room for a row here and a 
row there in the open quarters, and it is advisable to open a 
trench and put in a lot of rough manure, and then fill in 
over the manure with part of the earth taken out, leaving 
the remainder in a ridge on the south side, and then to sow 
thinly, the ridge serving to shade the seed a little. In any 
case lettuces should be in the open, for the shade of trees 
