Oct.] the KITCHEN GARDEN. 513 
In the middle states, if the water is tolerably mild, but particu- 
larly in the southern states, lettuces will stand in warm south bor- 
ders of light sandy ground with a very slight protection, and afford 
an early supply in spring; in these beds or borders they may be 
planted at the distance of three or four inches every way, and the 
supernumerary plants may be taken up in March and planted either 
in hot-beds for forcing, or into other beds in warm exposures for 
heading in due season. 
The lettuces which you plant in warm borders in the open ground 
may, on the approach of winter, be protected by placing hoops over 
the beds, on which to lay mats or other covering in severe weather, 
or by placing a frame of boards around them, on which to lay others 
slightly covered with litter when necessity requires; or by sticking 
in small branches of pine or cedar between the rows, which will 
yield them considerable protection, especially if some long dry 
straw be laid over these in frosty or cutting weather. Or you may 
stick down forked sticks about a foot high, lay long poles from one 
fork to another, and on these boughs of pine or cedar pretty thick, 
and likewise around the edges of the beds; those branches being 
supported ten or twelve inches above the plants will admit a free 
circulation of air and prevent mouldiness. This protection is not to 
be given until the severe frosts commence, nor is it then to be taken 
entirely off, especially in sunshine, until after the general thaw 
takes place in spring; in very dry mild days, when the sun does 
not shine, or when it is not powerful, you may take off the covering 
for a few hours to air the plants; but you must as carefully guard 
against strong sunshine, especially towards the latter end of 
February, as against the most severe frosts; for after tender plants 
are severely pinched by frost, a too powerful sun literally dis- 
solves and destroys them; whereas, if they were protected from 
such till gradually recovered and the commencement of free vege- 
tation, there would not be the least danger of their success. This 
is not common to lettuces only, but to cabbage and cauliflower 
plants, stock-gilly flowers, wall flowers, and every other kind that 
can be in the least affected by frost. 
In the beginning of this month sow some of the brown Dutch 
hardy cabbage, Hammersmith hardy green, and green cos lettuces 
in a frame or frames, to be kept where sown, during winter, under 
the protection of glasses, &c., in order to afford a supply of young 
plants for forcing or planting out in the early spring months. 
Cabbage Plants. 
The young cabbage plants arising from the seeds sown last 
month, and intended for the production of early summer cabbages 
should, as soon in this month as they shall have attained a sufficient 
size, be planted into the beds in which they are to remain during 
winter. 
Let a bed or beds be prepared for them in a warm, well sheltered 
part of the garden, where the sun has the greater power; for although 
direct sunshine, when the plants are in a frozen state, is almost 
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