The compleat gardeners practice, directing the exact way of gardening in three parts : the garden of pleasure, physical garden, kitchin garden : how they are to be ordered for their best situation and improvement, with variety of artificial knots for the by Stephen Blake, gardener.

Lettice.

Many sorts there be, but of all others the French Lettice is the best; but that being sown in England, it doth often dege∣nerate from its own nature, because it findeth not the air and

the earth so temperate here, as in its own Countrey; there∣fore if it be raised here, it must be done with care and judg∣ment; and as for our ordinary English Lettice, it may be it would appear as light as vanity to the vulgar sort of people, to give any directions for the raising and governing of them, although there is matter of consequence in the work, yet I shall wave it, and only put you in mind, that you may sow Lettice any moneth, from the latter end of February to the latter end of September: yet take notice, that those which be sown in the middle of the Summer ought to be watered, and those that are sowed in September for salletting early in the Spring, would be covered with straw, or sown under a warm pale that might shelter it from the sharp winds.

Lastly, If you have a desire to save seed of Lettice, let it be of such as was sown in September, let them not be cut or medled with, till the seed be full ripe in it, and that will be in July.