The Kjtchen (garden 
Chap. XXX. 
LiBhu. Lettice. 
T Herearefo many forts, and fo great diuerfitic of Lettice, that I doubt I (hall 
fcarce be beleeued of a great many. For I doe in this Chapter reckon vpvrto 
you eleauen or twelue differing forts; fomeof little vfe, others of more, be- 
ing more common and vulgar } andforaethatareof excellent vfe and feruicc, which 
are more rare, and require more knowledge and care for the ordering of them, as alfo 
for their time of fpending, as fomc in the fpring, fome in fummer, others in au- 
tumne, and fome being whited for the winter. For all thefe forts I lhall not necde ma- 
ny defcriptions, but only fhew you which doe cabbage, and which are loofc, which of 
of them are great or fmall, white, greene or red, and which of them beare white feeds, 
and which of them blacke. And laftly I haue thought good to adde another Sallet 
herbe, which becaule ir is called Lambes Lettice of many, or Corne Sallet of others, 
is put in only to fill vp a number in this Chapter, and that I muft fpeake of it, and not 
that I thinke it to be any of the kindes of Lettice. 
Allfortsof Lettice, after a while that they haue elofed themfclucs, if theybeeof 
the Cabbage kindes, or otherwife being loofe, and neuer doling, fend forth from a- 
mong the middle of their leaues a round ftalkc (in fome greater, in others lelfer,accor- 
ding to their kinde)full of leaues like vnto the lower, branching at the toppe into fun- 
dry parts, whereon grow diuers fmall ftar-like flowers, of a pale yellowilh colourjafter 
which come feede, eyther white or blackifli, as the plant yeeldcth, whereat hangeth 
fomc fmall peece of a cottony doune, wherewith the whole head is ftored, and is car- 
ried away with the winde, if it be not gathered in time : the rooteis fomewhatlong 
and white, with lome fibres at it, and perilbeth quickely after the feede is ripe. 
The Romane red Lettice is the bell and greateft of all the reft. For Iohn Tradef- 
cante that firft, as I thinke, brought it into England, and fowed it, did write vnto mee, 
that after one of them had been bound and whited, when the refufe was cut away, the 
reft weighed Icuenteene ounces : this hath blacke feede. 
The white Romane Lettice is like vnto it, hauing long leaues like a Teafell, it is in 
goodnelfe next vnto the red, but muft be whited, that it may cate kindly : the feede 
hereof is white. 
The Virginia Lettice hath finglc and very broade reddifh leaues, and is not of any 
great regard,and therefore is kept but of a few : it bcareth blacke feede. 
The common Lumbard Lettice that is loofe, and another kinde thereof that doti» 
fomewhat cabbage, haue both white feedes. 
The Venice Lettice is an excellent Cabbage Lettice, and is beft to bee fowen after 
Midfummer for lateward Lettice } they be fometimes as great as the crowne afa mans 
hart : the feede hereof is white, andgroweth to beofameane height. 
Ourcommon Cabbage Lettice is well known, and beareth blacke feede. 
The curld Lettice which is open, and differeth but little from Endiue,beareth black 
feede. 
Another fort of curld Lettice doth cabbage, and is called Flanders Cropers, or 
Cropers of Bruges ; this groweth loweft,and hath the fmalleft head jut very hard and 
round, and white while it groweth : the feed is blacke. 
A kinde of Romane Lettice is ofadarke green colour, growing as low as the Venice 
Lettice, and is an excellent kinde, bearing blacke feede. 
And laftlj our winter Lettice is wonderfull hardy to endure our cold : It Is but An- 
gle, and muft be fowen at Michaelmas, but will be very good, before any of the other 
good forts fowen in the S pring,will be ready to be vfed, and beareth white feed. 
Toinftrutftanouice (fori teach nota Gardiner of knowledge) how to gather his 
feede that it may be good, is in this manner : Let him marke out thofe plants that hee 
meanethfhall run vp for fecde,which muft be the moft likely ; & after they haue begun 
to flioote forth ftalkes, (trip away the lower leaues, for two or three hands breadth a- 
bouc the ground, that thereby in taking away the loweft leaues, the ftalkc doe not rot, 
nor the feed be hindered in the ripening. 
There 
