li l!"
l'i.:
; y i
yet, excepting a few of tho sorts, as tho lettuce, radish, cress, &c., they are seldom found
in those of the cottager.
S u b s e c t . 1. Lettuce.— "Lactuca sativa L .; Syng. Polyg. jEqxc. L. and Cichoracece J.
Laitue, F r.; Gartensalat, Ger.; Latum, Dutch; Lattuga, Ital.; Lechuga, Span.; and
Alface, Port.
3896. The lettuce is a hardy annual, introduced or cultivated in 1562, but from what
country is unknown. Some authors consider it as merely a variety of one of the three
native species; one of which, tlie L . virdsa, seems very likely to be the parent plant.
Tlie leaves are large, milky, frequently ivriiikled, usuaUy pale green, but varying much
in form and colour in the different varieties. Though of but a few months’ duration in
the same individual, yet, in gardens, by successive sowings in spring, summer, and
autumn, it is obtained most part of the year.
3897. Use. The use of lettuce as a cooling and agreeable salad is well known ; it is also a useful in gredient
in soups. It contains, like the other species of this genus, a quantity of opium juice, of a milky
nature, from which, of late years, a medicine hfis been prepared by D r . D uncan, senior, of Edinburgh,
under the title o iL a c lu c a r ium , and which he finds can be administered with effect in cases where opium
is inadmissible. (Caled. H o r t. M em ., vol. i. p. ICO. 259., vol. ii. p. 314., and vol. iv. p. 153.)
3898. Varieties. These are very numerous ; and. from the names, many of them appear to have come
to us from th e Greek islands and the coast of the Levant. The best are —
Cabbage Lettuces. Laitue pommé, Fr. ;
Kojifsalate, Ger. ; and Kropsalaad,
Dutch.
Early frame. Green Dutch, ..... ..
admirable, lloman cabbage, Prussian.
5. Large white cabbage, Saxony, Union.
(Gardener's Magazine, vol. ii.
p. 456.)
4. Jirown Dutch, irith yellow seed.
5. Brown Dutch, -with white seed.
6. Silesian, Laitue de Malthe, White
Marseilles, Drumhead, Ice lettuce of
the United States. (Gard. Mag.,yol.
ii. p. 436.)
7. Brown Silesian.
Cos Lettuces. Laitue Jiomnine, F r,;
and Rdmischen Salate, Ger.
8. Green, Egyptian.
9. Dwarf forcing. Dwarf Siberian,
otted, Aleppo, Bloody.
12. Brown, Bath, Hamburgh.
13. Florence, Marseilles, Golden.
14. Paris, Cove, Kensington, Largo
Brighton.
3899. E s tim a te o f so rts. For winter and spring, th e best sorts of cabbage lettuce are, the brown Dutch,
hardy Hammersmith, and Tenuis b a l l ; and of Cos lettuce, th e brown, the red, and the green. F or
summer and autumn, the best sorts of cabbage lettuce are, the Silesian and the brown Silesian ; and of
Cos lettuce, the Paris and Florence. In a very young state, th e cabbage lettuces have a milder, more
agreeable taste than the Cos ; but, when both classes are full grown, the fiavour of the Cos is preferred
for salads, while th e cabbage kinds are more used for soups. The varieties of lettuce in cultivation
are continuallv changing; hence those in fashion now (1849) are either different, or bear quite different
names, from those which were most in demand when this Enci/clopesdia was first composed in 1820.
3900. Pro p a g a tio n . From seed; of which, for a seed-bod 4 ft. wide by 10 ft. in length, a quarter of
an ounce is sufficient, and will produce upwards of four hundred pliints.
3901. Soil a n d s itu a tio n . “ AU the sorts grow freely on any rich mellow soil, where the subsoil is dry.
F or the most part, raise this vegetable as a prmcipal crop, on beds set apart for i t ; and keep the varieties
separate: but to multiply the supplies throughout summer, portions m ay b e sown, thinly intermixed
with principal crops of leeks, onions, carrot, and spinach, which will come off before th e lettuces are full
grow n ; also, with any young perennials which stand at wide intervals.”
3902. T im e s o fso tv in g . “ To obtain a constant supply of good lettuces, it is advisable to sow every
month, from February to July, for the main summer and autumn crops ; and to sow distmct sorts in
August and September, to produce late autumn and winter plants, of which a reserve is to stand for
spring and early summer heading lettuces in th e following year. F or the first early crops, you may
begin to sow at the end of January or beginning of February, if mild dry weather ; or, more generally,
later in February, or in the first week of March, on a sheltered south border. Some choice kind.? may
be sown in a frame, and forwarded by forcing. But for th e m ain summer crops, sow in March and April,
in any open situation. Follow with secondary sowings twice or oftener every month, from May till about
th e 7th of August, to provide for a succession through the summer, till October ; as the plants sown
early in th e year, after heading fully, soon fly up to seed-stalks. T h e sowing in the midst of summer
should be on shady borders. For a crop to come in during winter, and stand over partially till spring,
make two late sowings, in th e third week of August and last fortnight of September.”
3903. Proc e ss in sowing. “ The ground should have been broken in the previous digging. Sow broadcast,
moderately thin ; rake in lightly, and very even.”
3904. M a n a g em en t o fth e s um m e r c rops. “ In the successive crops raised from the opening of spring
till th e close of summer, when the plants reach about 2 in., 3 in., or 4 in. growth, they should be thinned;
of those removed let a requisite number be planted out, from 1 ft. to 15 in. asunder, to remain for cabbaging.
Such as continue in the seed-beds may be either gathered thinningly, in progressive stages, till
th e final reserve advance in close heading ; or, as they increase in size, be planted out a t th e square distance
specified above, especially those designed to stand till of stocky growth. In dry weather, water
well at transplanting. Also weed and hoe the beds thinned, and water them if necessary. In the first
heading crop of Cos lettuces, when about three parts grown, and beginmng to close the inner leaves, a
number may be forw.arded in cabbaging, by tying the leaves together, moderately close, with strings of
b a s t; the remainder will head and whiten, in due time, without this assistance. Under the above culture,
th e successive crops will advance freely to a stocky g row th ; the earliest will cabbage moderately in May,
but more fully in June, and in perfection in July and August.
3905. Crop raised on heat. “ F or an accelerated crop, some may be sown in the beginning or middle
of February on a gentle hotbed. When th e plants are 1 in. or 2 in. high, in March or April, prick a
portion either into a warm border, if a m ild season, and let them be shielded with mats, during nights
and bad we a th e r; or into a frame or slender hotbed, to bring them more forward. According to their
progress, in April or May, transplant them into th e open garden, from 6 in. to 12 in. asunder, to remain
tor heading.”
390C. W in te r -s ta n d in g crop. “ To havo lettuces for drawing in minor growth for use, during winter,
ir,/? F« rtf/in/? ir, rvnrf //ir >>/i/.,rr.„ ir. r. rv. /.«-., r« /.//,/OT/. --"•i" — T,_________ „A,________
h t of S
^ , . - „Her poi ^ ,
th e plants to remain and take the chances of the weather : if these survive, they will be acceptable k ........
spring; some to th in out for use young, and the remainder to transplant for larger growth, early in
summer, without running. The plants of the August and September sowing will soon appear, and will
be ready to transplant the same season. Some may remain where sown, and a good portion may be
transplanted to warm borders ; a quantity of the choice Cos may be planted in beds of light dry earth,
u nder frames or hand-lights, or under awnings, to have the protection of mats in cold nights, and partially
on inclement days. Accordingly, about the middle or end of September, and in October, when the
eed-btds, JOU ra aj conveniently thin out some young plants, for occasional use in the winter hot ?o
under hand-ligMs, to have protection during the night, and in all bad winter weather • L r if defieftnfthose
in frames, and the others under occasional shelter, have the free air on all mild drv davs • bnt let
them be defendea always at night with the glasses, and with mats or o th ïr addftioÎÏÏ in to iS
as to admftThe day-time, protect them from heavy rain, snow, and frost, but so
fnaS l i X S t r 4 littor or’ 4 4 ®»®ason, you may cover the choicer plants in the open borders with
¡rith i t o / l / /« fo ré to useful sizes in the course of April, orwill reach full growth
with stocky hearts about May; thus the table m ay b e supplied till the early crops of spring succeed
1 he plants first sown m the current year come to have good heads in June and JulV. W i K a m S l é
i S m ë d i S f v n /ré / / transplanting some of the strongest autumn-raised p la n t/
tofocfo f * ’ P a ^ v e , by frames or glasses, mto hotbeds, or th e borders of forcin<r-stoves ■
Hansplant the lettuces to be thus forced, with balls of earth about the roots, in December, January and
Qoo® L excited by heat in December, will have cabbaged hearts by the beginnins of March
to.fofo’i f ré are sown by th e French in drills, and cut over when in the third mihto
n , /ré do cresses and mustard. T. here are several varieties sold in the French sced-shops for
this purpose, under the name of laitue epmard, laitue chicorée, and laitue à couper ; hut it is evident
S g ! voréi! p%37 ) " probable that the French sell any kind under these names. (G a S
39Ô8.higher toArtPte/ E x c c
P d lem " cabbage ' '
lettuce is produced by the Dutch gardeners throughout the whole winter • the
practice -
their tables every day in the year. The following account of t h i
L kL IIJ ’/! / / Lm^degaard m th e G a rd en e r's Ma g a zin e .— A. hotbed facing the south, which has
done bearing is chosen ; the mould is well stirred, or turned over! ail'd'"if'too'heavv aboiit half i-h«
^"^Lsood k|af-mould put in its place, th e whole being well m ix e Îto g e th e r. Some
Ì S f S t u r a 1
thré S m / f nnré - v ÌP f ^ j 4 4 ' " ’^60 Wanted for use, leaf-mould only is put on the bed, or in
/.réréri H ’ i P m Holland this kind of mould is generally much incorporated with sand, particularly
to réré? li / P ’t • 4 suitable for the growth of cabbage lettuces. T h e sort of cabbage lettuce
réf toL Lindegaard was m Holland was termed h le in g ro en (smal! green), with black seed • but
/L f/rtfo i sort, k le in g c c l (small white), with white seed, has been thou"-ht
b ? i r i 4 - Ìréfoto/ré®®réré''®«^ ®’-*® days of September, on amelon-t earing , and watering it with a fine syringe, if the weather continue dry. must not bbee nde welhccicthed h asW dho«nne
nraiSrad 1 ré® leaf, they are fit for transplanting ; the bed, having been previously
“ ““' “ “ ‘‘Cd so th a t one plant will be placed under e v e rriram e oÌ
f/réréré ■ P r é T ° ® >'®s®*‘'’®> or superfluous row, at top and bottom, is very advisable
ÌhÌitohré ré • ®aP P should be eaten by th e wire-worm, which is often th e case. After planting
?to il ®®’ ®®ré®® th e first two days ; as the plants begin to grow
air IS admitted mto th e frames, as well at the bottom as at the top (about 3 in.). bv nuttine two h r ir k l
s o m f Z f eyety sash ; and in this manner, th e frame? Inay rem a i/’o jL ^ day L n i g t fo?
//■rél/ tiréto period It wHl be necessary to search the beds every morning, if the wire-worms have
réréÌ ? i / I , / / - f ® ’ -?® ' ' a®''® ^ré®.P^ont IS eaten, you will be pretty sure to find a worm under the
d / / Huréh/ toréré ré® \ ft®®P or so : this is to be continued early in the morning every
W i 1 ^ f to ^ ^ c ts disappear In October, when the air grows cold, and the heads o fth e cabbage lettuce
^ ¿ p » ® or hard, air is no longer given, and the lights are entirely closed, but the leaves must
fo«réréréré “ 'réV® unexpected frost will h u rt thcir edges, and
l / d fo /ré ^ w ? T l • ftave to be lifted e v ^ y now
/révrétoréfo/w ré/ commence, generally in October, great attention must be paid to
covering uhe beds with a single layer of bast mats ; yet too much covering is to be avoided before i-h«
plants are grown to perfect heads. Watering is quite out of the question, and even very hurtful ; care
ré ? ré ré°fo réré®® prevent moisture as much as possible. Cover more or less according to thè
sevm ty of the weather, aud keep th e lig h ts uncovered in the day, whenever and as much as the weather
wril permit. _ this treatment th e Dutch gardeners produce cabbage lettuces during the whole winter
•'’•'-ced. M. Lindegaard had followed this
Rosenburgh, when he wrote the above
A - By
till the month of
method for
paper iu 1829.
was practised for many years at' Longleat, by the
Mr. Rutger had been taught f - - - ' ' ’
T h e same mode of growing lettuces through thewinter
—, 1. J 1. , — r A • OTA. A, .JJ i/iiOT AlaCAtie/^ MA/AAr .. ARA uLA tI.g ,^1e51r ,, wLT hIILoJ w,V tal5s ttlhiHi r1 tIy years gardener there.
r.th e practice in the neighbourhood of Amsterdam, w
acquiring a knowledge of Dutch gardening, and especially of their mode offer
. gar< ______
lere he spent five years
Avofydlsttactaocou„fo7MrrEuÎ8'e?îp7OTÎrcrarL^^^^^^^^^^^
to grow lettuce m this way in Britain, is given by his son, Mr. T. Rutger, in the G a rd en e r 's M a g a zin e
v oL v in .p . 174. I h e same method of procuring winter lettuces is now practised a t Hyland in Essex •’
and a brief account of it, which we drew up in 1827, will be found in th e Garrf. Mag., vol. iii. p. 388 Thè
three accounts agree m every essential particular. We are informed by Mr. Main, th at th e Dutch
practice in the culture of winter lettuce was successfully carried on about the commencement of the
present century in the gardens of B ulstrode Park.
3909. To sa v e seed. Leave or transplant either some of the early winter-standing plants, in March
o r April, or of the forwardest sprmg-sown crops, in May or begmning of June, 15 in. asunder. Thev
will produce n p e seed m August and September.” (A b e rc rom b ie .) In Germany they do not wait till
the sP'ke of flowers has ripened all the seeds, b u t cut it over on the first appearance of maturity, and
lay It on the ground, after which all the florets ripen their seeds about th e same time. This is the ca«e
with most syngenesious plants.
S u b s e c t . 2. Endive. — Oichhrium Endivia L. ; Syng. Polyg. Æqu. L. and Cichoràceoe
X Chicorée des Jardins, Fr. ; Endivie, Ger. and Dutch ; Endivia, Itcal. ; and
Endibia, Span.
_ 3910. The endive is a hardy annual, a native of China and Japan, and introduced
in 1548. The root-leaves are numerous, large, sinuate, toothed, and smooth; the