132 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [Feb. 
be kept on for any considerable lenj^th of time, unless you are ex- 
tremely careful to give them as much air and light at every op- 
portunity as possible, consistent with their safety. 
Spinach. 
Sow some prickly-seeded spinach, it being the hardiest kind, 
about the latter end of the month; let some dry warm ground be 
prepared for this purpose, and sow the seed thereon thin and resru- 
lar, either broad-cast and raked in, or in drills a foot asunder, or on 
four feet wide beds; being careful that, in either case, the seed be 
not covered more than from an inch, to half an inch deep, according 
tot he lightness or stiffness of the ground. 
The smooth-seeded round leaved kind, is the best to sow during 
the remainder of the spring and early summer months; but, for 
this early sowing, the prickly seeded being more hardy, is pre- 
ferable. 
ICP I am well aware, that in far the greater part of the eastern 
states, the ground is generally, durmg the whole of this month, and 
a consicierable part of March, so bound up with frost, as not to be 
dug or cultivated; but this not being ihe case in the middle states, 
except in very seveie seasons, and not all in the southern states, I 
am induced to give these directions for the sowing "f early crops, 
and where the state of the weather permits, they may be practised 
to advantage, and where not, the business must be deferred a little 
longer. 
Sowing Lettuce Seed. 
If the weather be mild, and the ground in good condition, you 
may, about the latter end of this month; sow some lettuce ?ecd on 
a south border, which ought to be well defended by a wall, hedge, or 
board fence, Sec. The kinds most suitable to be sown at this time, 
are the early curled, and common cabbage lettuces, if intended to be 
cut up for small sallading; in which case, they are to be sown very 
thick on the surface, after the ground having been raked tolerably 
well, and then raked in; or they may be sown in beds, or drills ac- 
cording to fancy; observing, that these seeds require but a very 
slight covering 
You may also sow any other kinds of lettuce, such as the white, or 
green cos, Egyptian and spotted cos, which are excellent kinds; or 
if for cabbaging or heading, you may sow the white Silicia, grand 
admiral, large mogul, brown Dutch, or New-Zealand lettuces, all of 
which form good hard heads; for this purpose, they must be sown 
very thin, and when arrived at a due size, be transplanted in rows 
into the different borders, Sec. as directed in March; leaving a suf- 
ficient quantity to occupy tlie seed-bed, which will head earlier than 
th(',e that shall have been transplanted 
If these be covered in nights and in very unfavourable weather, 
either with mats or Ijoards, &c. it will greatly forward their growth. 
But in order to have a few in a more advanced state for trans- 
planting, and also for early small sallading; you may sow any of the 
