The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 65

_Propagation._--It is always grown from seeds, which are small and light; half an ounce being sufficient to sow a nursery-bed of nearly a hundred square feet. It is necessary that the ground should be well pulverized and made smooth before it is sown, and the seeds should not be covered more than a fourth of an inch deep.

_Cultivation._--Some recommend sowing where the plants are to remain, in drills from ten to fifteen inches apart, and thinning the plants to nearly the same distance in the lines; adapting the s.p.a.ces between the drills, as well as between the plants in the drills, to the habit and size of the variety in cultivation. Others recommend sowing in a small nursery-bed, and transplanting. The process of transplanting unquestionably lessens the liability of the plants to run to seed, and produces the largest and finest heads. The first sowing in the open ground may be made as soon in March or April as the frost leaves the ground; and, if a continued supply is desired, a sowing should afterwards be made, at intervals of about four weeks, until September.

"During spring, the young crops must be protected from frost, and in summer from drought by copious manure-waterings and frequent stirring of the ground between the plants. In the growing season, every stimulant should be applied; for much of the excellence of the crop depends on the quickness of its growth."

_Forcing._--Lettuce is now served at table the year round; not, of course, of equal excellence at all seasons. Sowings are consequently required for each month: those intended for the spring supply being made from December to February; about twelve weeks being required for its full development, when reared in the winter months. The seed is sown rather thinly, broadcast, in a hot-bed; and, when the plants have made two or three leaves, they are p.r.i.c.ked out to three or four inches apart in another portion of the bed,--thus affording them more s.p.a.ce for growth, and opportunity to acquire strength and hardiness. When two or three inches high, they are finally transplanted into yet another part of the bed, at distances corresponding with the size of the variety, varying from ten to fourteen inches in each direction. As the plants increase in size, the quant.i.ty of air should be increased; and water should be given, whenever the surface of the bed becomes dry. In severe cold or in cloudy weather, and almost always at night, straw matting (made thick and heavy for the purpose), woollen carpeting, or a similar subst.i.tute, should be extended over the gla.s.s, for the retention of heat.

Some practise transplanting directly from the nursery-bed to where the plants are to remain; but the finest Lettuce is generally obtained by the treatment above described.

"Lettuces are sometimes required for cutting young, or when about two inches high. These are termed, by the French, _Laitues a couper_. The small, early sorts (such as the Hardy Hammersmith and Black-seeded Gotte) are preferred for this purpose; but any sort that is green or pale-green, and not brown or otherwise colored, will do. They should be sown in the open ground about once a week, or every ten days, from April, throughout the season. In winter, they are best raised on heat.

They should be sown rather thickly in drills six inches apart."--_Thomp._

_To save Seed._--"This should be done from plants raised from early sowings. The finest specimens should be selected; avoiding, however, those that show a disposition to run quickly to seed. Those that heart readily, and yet are slow to run up, are to be preferred. Care should be taken that no two different varieties be allowed to seed near each other, in order that the sorts may be kept true. The seed which ripens first on the plant is the best: therefore it should be secured, rather than wait for the general ripening. The branchlets which first ripen their seed should be cut off, and laid on a cloth in the sun; or, when the forward portion of the seed is as near maturity as will safely bear without shaking off, the plants should be carefully pulled up, and placed upright against a south wall, with a cloth under them to perfect their ripening. The seed should in no case be depended on without trial.

Plants from seeds two years old heart more readily than those from one-year-old seed."--_Thomp._

_Use._--"Lettuce is well known as one of the best of all salad plants.

It is eaten raw in French salads, with cream, oil, vinegar, salt, and hard-boiled eggs. It is also eaten by many with sugar and vinegar; and some prefer it with vinegar alone. It is excellent when stewed, and forms an important ingredient in most vegetable soups. It is eaten at almost all meals by the French; by the English after dinner, if not served as adjuncts to dishes during the repast; and by many even at supper. In lobster and chicken salads, it is indispensable; and some of the varieties furnish a beautiful garnish for either fish, flesh, or fowl.

"In a raw state, Lettuce is emollient, cooling, and in some degree laxative and aperient, easy of digestion, but containing no nourishment."

_Varieties._--These are exceedingly numerous. Some are of English origin; many are French and German; but comparatively few are American.

The number of kinds grown to any considerable extent in this country is quite limited. Cultivators generally select such as appear to be best adapted to the soil and climate of their particular locality; and, by judicious management, endeavor to give vigor and hardiness to the plants, and to increase the size, compactness, and crispy quality of the head. Some of the varieties have thus been brought to a remarkable degree of perfection; the plants producing heads with as much certainty, and nearly as well proportioned and solid, as those of the Common Cabbage. They are generally divided into two cla.s.ses; viz., Cabbage lettuces and Cos lettuces.

_Cabbage Lettuces._--

BROWN DUTCH.

Black-seeded. _Vil._

Head of medium size, rather long and loose; the leaves, which coil or roll back a little on the borders about the top of the head are yellowish-green, washed or stained with brownish-red,--the surplus leaves are large, round, waved, green, washed with bronze-red, and coa.r.s.ely, but not prominently, blistered; diameter twelve to fourteen inches; weight about eight ounces.

This Lettuce cabbages readily, forms a good-sized head, is tender, of good quality, hardy, and tolerably early. It does not, however, retain its head well in dry and warm weather; and, as it is little affected by cold, seems best adapted to winter or very early culture. It resembles the Yellow-seeded Brown Dutch, but is not so early, and the head is looser and larger.

BROWN SILESIAN OR Ma.r.s.eILLES CABBAGE. _Vil._

Brown Batavian.

Head green, tinted with brown, remarkably large,--not compactly, but regularly, formed; ribs and nerves of the leaves large and prominent; the leaves disconnected with the head are large, bronze-green, coa.r.s.ely blistered, and frilled and curled on the margin. The diameter of a well-grown plant is about eighteen inches, and its weight twenty-eight ounces. The seeds are white.

This Lettuce, though somewhat hard, is brittle and mild flavored, but is better when cooked than when served in its crude state as a salad. It is a hardy, late sort; succeeds well in winter, and retains its head a long period; but is rarely employed for forcing, on account of its size,--one of the plants occupying, in a frame or hot-bed, the s.p.a.ce of two plants of average dimensions.

BROWN WINTER CABBAGE. _Vil._

Large Brown Winter.

Head of medium size, green, washed or stained with brownish-red, regularly formed, and moderately compact; the exterior leaves are round and short, much wrinkled, and coa.r.s.ely blistered. When grown in winter or in cool weather, the plants measure fourteen inches in diameter, and weigh from fourteen to sixteen ounces. The seeds are white.

Hardy, and well adapted for winter culture. The heads are not so firm as those of some varieties; but they are well retained, blanch white and tender, and are of excellent flavor.

EARLY OR SUMMER CAPE.

Royal Cape.

Head roundish, usually well formed, and moderately close and firm; the outer leaves are large, loose, golden-green, undulated, and coa.r.s.ely blistered; the interior leaves are more finely blistered, and nearly of the same color as those of the outside; head, when divided, yellowish to the centre; the plants, when fully grown, measure nearly a foot in diameter, and weigh from six to ten ounces.

The variety is not well adapted for forcing or for early culture in the open ground. As a summer Lettuce, it is one of the best; enduring the heat well, and not running soon to seed. Though not so crisp and brittle as some of the winter or spring grown varieties, it is comparatively well flavored and of good quality. It is similar to the Summer or Royal Cabbage.

EARLY SIMPSON.

Hative de Simpson. _Vil._

Head large, pale-green, a little irregular in its form, and only of medium solidity; the outside leaves are large and broad, plaited, and much blistered; diameter fourteen or fifteen inches; weight twelve or fourteen ounces; seeds white.

This Lettuce is brittle, and of excellent flavor; but its head is not compactly formed. Its season is near that of the Versailles Cabbage; but it runs quicker to seed. It is said to be an American variety, and is much grown in the vicinity of New York City for marketing.

EARLY WHITE SPRING OR BLACK-SEEDED GOTTE. _Trans._

A small spring Cabbage Lettuce, growing close to the ground. Its heart is hard and firm, and measures about four inches in diameter when stripped of its outer leaves; color pale-green; the leaves are thin, nearly round, rugose, and waved on the margin.

This Lettuce comes early into use, and, besides, is of excellent flavor; but its chief merit is, that it remains longer than almost any other sort before running to seed, and even sometimes bursts before the flower-stem is formed. It is one of the smallest of the Cabbage lettuces, and somewhat resembles the Tennis-ball; from which, however, it differs in the leaves being more curled and of a lighter-green color, and by not running to seed so soon by three weeks or a month.

The variety has black seeds; and this fact should be particularly attended to in obtaining it from seedsmen, as the White-seeded Gotte lettuces run much sooner to flower. Various other Gotte lettuces are described by authors. "All are of great merit, but are little cultivated in the United States. Where small, hard, compact, and delicate sorts are required, this cla.s.s should be selected."

ENDIVE-LEAVED. _Vil._

Laitue chicoree.

This variety forms no head. The leaves are finely frilled and curled, and spread regularly from a common centre in the form of a rosette. A well-developed plant resembles Curled Endive. It appears to be nearly identical with the Green Curled Lettuce.

The seeds are black, and smaller than those of any other variety.

ENGLISH ENDIVE-LIKE CURLED-LEAVED. _Vil._

Like the Common Green Curled Lettuce, this variety forms no head. The plant has the form of a rosette, and the foliage a silvery-gray appearance. The leaves are short, undulated on the border, but not frilled and curled like the Common variety; nerves purplish; the heart of the plant is large and full; seeds black.

This Lettuce is hardy, tender, and well flavored, and equal, if not superior, to the Common Green Curled, both in respect to quality and its adaptation to winter culture.

GREEN CURLED.

Curled. Endive-leaved. Boston Curled.