The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 68

Drumhead Cabbage. Large Drumhead. Spanish.

One of the largest of the Cabbage lettuces. Head golden-green, tinted with brownish-red about the top, regularly but not compactly formed. The outer leaves are large and broad, yellowish-green, bordered with brown, wrinkled, and coa.r.s.ely blistered. When well grown, the entire diameter of the plant is about eighteen inches, and its weight twenty ounces. The seeds are white.

This variety appears to be adapted to all seasons. It is hardy, retains its head well, withstands heat and drought, blanches white and crisp, and is of excellent flavor. It succeeds well in frames; but, on account of its large size, is not a profitable sort for forcing.

A variety, known as the "Tennis-ball" in some localities, is very similar to this; and the "Boston Cabbage" of New England, if not identical, seems to be but an improved form of the White Silesian.

WHITE STONE CABBAGE.

Large Golden Summer Cabbage.

Head of medium size, yellowish-green, stained with brownish-red, firm and solid. When fully developed, the entire diameter of the plant is about fourteen inches, and its weight sixteen ounces. The seeds are white.

This lettuce is brittle, of tender texture and good quality, though it is sometimes slightly bitter. It is hardy, heads readily, is slow in running to flower, succeeds well in warm and dry weather, and is also well adapted for frame-culture or for forcing.

YELLOW-SEEDED BROWN DUTCH. _Vil._

White Dutch. American Brown Dutch.

Head of medium size, yellowish-green, variegated with red, rounded at the top, and tapering to a point at the base; compact; seeds yellow.

A half-early sort, of good quality, hardy, and well adapted for winter culture, or for sowing early in spring. It somewhat resembles the Black-seeded Brown Dutch: but, apart from the difference in the color of the seeds, its foliage is more blistered, and more colored with red; and the plant produces numerous sprouts, or shoots, about the base of the head.

COS LETTUCES.

These are quite distinct from the Cabbage lettuces before described. The heads are long, erect, largest at the top, and taper towards the root,--the exterior leaves clasping or coving over and around the head in the manner of a hood, or cowl. As a cla.s.s, they are remarkable for hardiness and vigor; but the midribs and nerves of the leaves are comparatively coa.r.s.e and hard, and most of the kinds will be found inferior to the Cabbage lettuces in crispness and flavor. They are ill adapted for cultivation in dry and hot weather; and attain their greatest perfection only when grown in spring or autumn, or in cool and humid seasons.

_Varieties._--

ALPHANGE OR FLORENCE COS (BLACK-SEEDED). _Vil._

In the form of the head, and in its general character, this variety resembles the White-seeded. Both of the sorts are remarkable for size, for hardiness and healthy habit, for the length of time they remain in head before running to seed, and for the brittle and tender character of the ribs and nerves of the leaves.

Besides the difference in the color of the seeds, the head of this variety is smaller, and the foliage paler, than that of the White-seeded.

ALPHANGE OR FLORENCE COS (WHITE-SEEDED). _Vil._

Magnum Bonum Cos.

Head large, long, not compact, and forming well only when the exterior leaves are tied loosely together. The midribs and nerves of the leaves are large, but brittle, and of tender texture.

It is ten or twelve days later than the Green Paris Cos, retains its head well, is hardy and of healthy habit, but is deficient in flavor, and inferior to either of the Paris sorts.

ARTICHOKE-LEAVED. _Vil._

This variety forms no head; and, in its foliage and general habit, is quite distinct from all of the Cos varieties. The leaves are numerous, twelve or fourteen inches long; of a lively-green color, often stained with brownish-red; erect, narrow, pointed, and toothed on the margin, like those of the Artichoke. Before blanching, the leaves are slightly bitter; but mild, crisp, and tender, with no savor of bitterness, after being blanched. The seeds are black.

The plant grows uprightly, groups its leaves together, and thus blanches the interior parts spontaneously; but a much larger portion will be fit for use, if the leaves are collected, and tied loosely about the tips in the manner of treating Cos lettuces.

It is remarkably hardy, slow in running to flower, and the seeds may be sown till August. Late in the season, it is mild and pleasant, and furnishes a tender salad when most of the Cos lettuces become bitter and strong-flavored.

BATH GREEN COS. _M'Int._

This variety has much merit as a hardy, winter, green sort; and is nearly related to the Brown Cos, but is less brown on the outer leaves: but, while that has white seeds, the seeds of this variety are black.

Hence there are found, upon the catalogues of seedsmen, Black-seeded Bath, or Brown Cos; and White-seeded Bath, or Brown Cos; the latter seeming to be the hardiest, while the former appears to be the best.

BROWN COS.

Bath Cos. Sutton's Berkshire Brown Cos. Wood's Improved Bath Cos.

Bearfield Cos. White-seeded Brown Cos.

This is one of the oldest of the Cos lettuces, and considered the hardiest of the cla.s.s. The head is of large size, pointed, not compact, and requires to be tied in order to obtain it in its greatest perfection; the leaves are of a copper-green color, stiff and firm, toothed and blistered; the seeds are white.

The Brown Cos blanches white and tender, and is exceedingly crisp and well flavored; but the dark-brownish color of the exterior leaves is deemed an objection, and it is often displaced by really inferior varieties. In weight and measurement, it differs little from the Green Paris Cos. Extensively cultivated and much esteemed in England.

GRAY PARIS COS. _Vil._

Head of the form of an inverted cone; green, with a grayish tone about the top; compact, and forming well without tying. The exterior leaves are numerous, deep-green, erect, firm, and prominently blistered. The full diameter of the plant is nearly twelve inches, and its weight about twenty ounces; the seeds are white.

The Gray Paris Cos is brittle, and of tender texture; but is considered inferior to the other Paris Cos sorts, and is but little cultivated.

GREEN PARIS COS. _Vil._

Kensington Cos. Sutton's Superb Green Cos. Wellington. Ady's Fine Large.

Head inversely conical, compact; leaves deep-green, erect, firm, hooded or cowl-formed towards the ends, and serrated on the margin; the ribs and nerves are large and prominent. When fully grown, the entire diameter of the plant is fifteen or sixteen inches, and its weight twenty-four ounces; the seeds are white.

It is considered one of the best of the Cos lettuces; and, though not so hardy as the Brown Cos, is a good variety for forcing, and furnishes a tender, well-flavored head during summer. Whether for spring, summer, or autumn, it is an excellent sort. It attains a large size, is of a fine green color, and, "from the manner in which the outer leaves cove over the interior ones, blanches well without having to be tied together."

It has a tender, brittle leaf; is some days earlier than the White Paris; and is the princ.i.p.al variety employed by the market-gardeners of Paris for cultivating under gla.s.s.

GREEN WINTER COS. _Vil._

Head elongated, somewhat of the form of the preceding variety; deep-green, and not forming well, unless the exterior leaves are tied together at the tips; the outer leaves are large, erect, concave, toothed on the margin, and prominently blistered; the seeds are black.

It blanches well; but the ribs and nerves of the leaves are comparatively coa.r.s.e and hard. Well adapted to winter culture; but, as a summer lettuce, of little value.