Apiul 21 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
43 
venders it more workable, and diffuses tho ingredients 
more thoroughly together. For very young, small plants, 
such as newly-struck cuttings, or for small divisions, the 
compost will be better for use if it runs through a finer 
sieve, using the rougher parts that will not pass through 
as drainage upon the crocks or broken potsherds. This 
liner compost will bo proper to put in under the sand 
in the cutting pots. T. Appleby. 
LETTUCE CULTURE. 
Although this production is from a climate similar 
j to that from whence so many of our greenhouse plants 
are natives of, yet it is able, at a certain state of its 
i growth, to endure as much cold as some plants that are 
the progeny of parents indigenous with us, but tho 
latter, partaking more of the perennial character than 
the Lettuce, are, in common with many other plants of a 
like kind, less able to bear the rigours of winter than 
the purely “ annuals;” and this rule is, in some degree, 
exemplified in the Lettuce, which, at a certain age, say 
when it has attained about half its growth, is really more 
hardy than either before or after; and though very small 
plants will sometimes stand over winter, yet they are 
subject to so many other mishaps that, in many cases, 
they are humoured with a glass, or other protection, 
until such time as the season moderates, so as to allow 
their being planted out, which, however, must be done 
with caution: for, besides tho evils resulting from frost 
and cold, a scarcely less evil arises from slugs and other 
enemies preying on the young plants to a woful extent. 
This important family delights in a rich soil , and in 
summer it may have a good share of moisture naturally, 
j or applied artificially; while in autumn and winter, a 
drier and more sheltered situation suits it best, because, 
in such soils, plants generally live the winter with less 
j damage to themselves than in one of the rich compound 
I which is reserved for their summer habitation, and in 
which tho inducement to arrive at a premature growth 
exists to a much greater extent. There are many plants 
iu which the principle of “ flowering early ” might be 
regarded as a great acquisition; still, there are others, 
and this is one of thorn, where as large a growth of the 
vegetable as is possible to obtain ought to take place 
before this flowering propensity comes on; and, as this 
object is best accomplished by an abundant supply of 
suitable food, it behoves the skilful cultivator to furnish 
it with that food at such time and in such quantities as 
meets its wants, and otherwise prevents its prematurely 
running to bloom, and, consequently, to seed. For this 
j purpose, the ground selected for the summer supply 
ought to be rich, moist, and deep; and, although some 
| cultivators have recommended a partial shade from the 
mid-day sun, we do not think this absolutely requisite; on 
: the contrary, where the ground is cool and moist, without 
at the same time being stiff and retentive, the ne- 
! cessity for shade has no existence, and may absolutely 
j be injurious. The deep mellow loams often found by tho 
j sides'of rivers form an excellent soil for the Lettuce; 
I and many old kitchen-gardens are equally adapted, 
j where they have derived the full benefit of a position 
near to the dung-yard ; for the plant is a gross feeder, 
delighting in tho juices of decayed matter as well as 
\ animal manure. 
It being, therefore, admitted that this plant delights 
in the deep rich soils above alluded to, we are next to 
I consider the varieties held most in estimation; and so far 
as names go there is no lack ; and some cultivators 
have divided the family into six or seven groups, as¬ 
signing certain distinctions to each ; but we shall not 
extend our list so far, but content ourselves with classing 
them as divided into two really distinct kinds—the 
Cabbage and Coss —the former having a more decumbent 
growth, with broad undulated leaves folding over each ' 
other, forming a sort of compressed globe when well 
grown, and the inner portion of a beautiful white, de- j 
cidedly more so than that of the next section. These j 
Cabbage Lettuces, of which the Tennis Ball, Drumhead, \ 
and Malta, arc good typos, are less likely to run to seed j 
in the hot weather of summer than the Coss, but it 1 
must be borne iu mind that the latter is the most cs- j 
teemed when well-grown. Now, as the varieties of Coss 
Lettuce are very numerous, and though names have 
been multiplied to a fault, yet there are evidently kinds j 
presenting features of distinction which will always ; 
secure them or their progeny (if of a different name) a j 
place in the garden; for we have the White Coss and 
the Brown, the Paris, Brighton, and Bath, with their 
connecting links of various kinds, all claimants for dis¬ 
tinction ; and though it would be difficult to give specific 
rules adapted to every place or situation, we would say 
that it is difficult, if not imprudent, trying to grow the 
White Coss well on very hot, dry, gravelly soils in sum¬ 
mer. The Brown is less likely to run to seed, but will 
require tying up very early iu its growth, which, unless 
liberally supplied with moisture, will be meagre. The 
best, perhaps, for standing hot weather unassisted, and 
under disadvantageous terms, is tho Brighton Coss, but 
this has assumed so many other uames, and been pre¬ 
sented to us under so many other features, that its for¬ 
mer characters are much modified now; still, however, 
the Brighton is a good useful Lettuce; while to those 
whose ground is capable of growing the best kinds to per¬ 
fection, it is likely that some of the white kinds will be 
more acceptable.'There is, amongst some of them, a dis¬ 
position to blanch themselves, and their lance-shaped 
leaves are what is termed hooded, at top, which is a con¬ 
traction of the marginal surface, so as to present a 
spoon-shape appearance on its upper point, the insides 
of which fold over each in close and beautiful order ; 
and the whole is represented as not wanting any tying, 
which they certainly do not; b\it they do not often arrive 
at so large a growth as the others; and are, besides, less 
crisp in their eating qualities, although equally white 
and pretty to the eye, that, except in those cases when 
after-attendance iu the way of tying-up, &c., cannot be 
guaranteed, these hooded varieties have no more claims 
on our notice than commoner kinds, and when they 
have to stand the winter there is a lack of hardihood 
in their constitution. 
Now, as a really well-blanched Lettuce forms an in¬ 
dispensable part of the “ bill of fare,” and, with very 
few exceptions, all classes, from the humblest cottager 
upwards, seem anxious to procure it, the amateur culti¬ 
vator must not deny it that due attention which its 
merits entitle it to. One of the richest, as well as tho 
coolest, situations must be reserved for it in summer; 
and in winter, one of the warmest, driest, and most 
sheltered. Its quick growth, and equally rapid decay, 
is sometimes the cause of its being planted a.s a tempo¬ 
rary crop between others more durable than itself; and 
where a plot of ground is set apart for winter Brocoli, 
and the plants not to be planted there for three 
weeks or more, an alternate plant ot Lettuce might 
be put in, after first marking out the spot for the 
Brocoli; these Lettuces would grow and be removed 
before the legitimate crop required the full space. This 
is sometimes done when the temporary and the perma¬ 
nent ones are planted together, but it is better when 
the former has a start; but, in order to ensure good 
useful Lettuce at all seasons, and more especially 
during the summer, it is advisable to sow and plant 
some under different circumstances, and by all means 
to sow some where they are wanted to remain for good, 
as it is in such situations that the best and most useful 
heads are often produced. 
It would be idle to give directions fitting for all seasons 
