512 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [-Ocr. 
south borders 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 plant- 
ed either in hot-beds for forcing, or into other beds in warm expo- 
sureSj 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 round 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 
f 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 round 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 sun-shine, 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 sun-shine, especially, to- 
wards 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 dissolves and destroys them; whereas, if they were 
protected from such, till gradually recovered, and the commence- 
ment of free vegetation, 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, Sec. 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 greatest power; for al- 
though direct sun shine, when the plants are in a frozen state, is 
almost certain destruction to them, yet its influence will prevent 
that intense frost so prevalent in colder aspects, and when the plants, 
