Lactuca sativa.

"The Lettuce is a hardy annual, introduced or cultivated in England since 1562, but from what country is unknown. The use of Lettuce, as a cooling and agreeable salad, is well known; it is also a useful ingredient 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, medicine has been prepared, under the title of Lactucarium, and which can be administered with effect in cases where opium is inadmissible.

"The varieties are very numerous. Those herein enumerated have been selected from the many which have come under our observation, and will be found to suit the various seasons of the year. Some varieties celebrated in Europe, are of little value here, soon shooting to seed under our hot sun.

"The Early Cabbage Lettuce is the earliest; it produces a moderately sized and very firm head and is known among the Philadelphia market gardeners as the ' butter salad.'

"The Royal Cabbage Lettuce is a very large variety, dark green, with firm head, and withstands the sun better than the preceding variety, not rapidly shooting to seed.

"The Palestine is a curiously spotted variety, produces a firm head, and of fair size.

"The India is a very fine kind, produces large hard heads, leaves wrinkled, stands the sun remarkably well.

"The Philadelphia Cabbage resembles the "Royal," and is in all respects a desirable variety.

"The Early Curled does not head; is used principally as "cut salad".

"The Cos, of which there are several varieties, produce conical formed heads, very succulent and crisp; soon run to seed; should therefore be planted early in the spring.

"The Brown Dutch somewhat resembles the early cabbage, the leaves tinged with brown.

"Lettuce delights in a deep, rich soil, not too heavy or humid. For early spring use sow about the middle of autumn, in some sheltered situation, as the plants, or a portion of them, are to remain there during the winter, lightly covered with straw or cedar brush to protect them from extreme cold. Near the close of autumn a planting may be made, as directed for "Early York Cabbage," when intended to stand the winter, (which see,) or they may be planted with the cabbage alternately. Early Cabbage, Brown Dutch and Palestine are better suited tor planting at this season.

"Part of those which remain in the seed-bed during the winter, should be transplanted as early in the spring as the ground admits of being worked. The remainder may be set out subsequently, which will ensure a more regular supply. To secure an uninterrupted succession, frequent sowings should be made during the early part of summer, thus: - have the ground deeply dug and raked fine; stretch a line to the extent intended to be planted, along which drop the seed thinly, and rake it in. When the plants are an inch or two in height, thin them to a foot apart, and give frequent hoeings, which will facilitate their growth.

In the earlier sowings those thinned out may be transplanted, and will produce good heads; but when the weather has become warm and dry they will not succeed well; it is therefore better to sow over as much ground as will produce the quantity required. For the earlier sowings all varieties will answer; for the latter ones when the season is advanced and the heat greater, the India and Royal Cabbage are better sorts.

"During the heat of summer the heads will be but poor, unless the season be very cool and humid. Sown about the close of summer and early in autumn, they will do well, as the weather will have become cool before they reach maturity. When sown in autumn for spring heading, it is advisable to take some of the earliest and latest.

"Very good Lettuce may be had in the early part of winter, if planted about the middle of autumn, in frames in a sheltered situation, covering the frames with glass or boards, when the weather becomes cool; in mild weather, giving plenty of air; where boards are used removing them to admit light." - Rural Reg.

To Obtain Seed

To produce seed some of the finest and most perfect plants of each variety that have survived the winter, or from the forwardest sowing of the year, should be selected. The seed from any that have run up prematurely, cannot be depended upon. All other plants must be removed from their neighbourhood, themselves being left at least a foot apart; neither is it allowable for two varieties to flower near each other, or only mongrel varieties will be obtained. Each stem is advantageously attached to a stake as a support in tempestuous weather. It is to be observed, that the branches must be gathered as the seed ripens upon them, and not left until the whole is ready, as some will ripen two or three weeks before others, and consequently, the first and best seed will be shed and lost. It must be particularly well dried before it is beaten out and stored.

Lettuce seed is considered to be best the second year; but when three years old, it refuses to vegetate.