Complete Text (Part 12)

in late autumn or early spring" (Cyclopedia American Horticulture). Set in moist, shady soil, one to two feet apart each way, and when they are well rooted set in the open at above distances. Pinch off all flower-buds the first year. Pick the flower-spikes before they fade, preferably in dry weather. To keep, tie a bunch of the spikes by their stalks, turn the stalks back over the spikes, and tie again, for protection. LEEK (Allium Porrum) is one of the onion family, second in commercial importance to the onion itself, being extensively used in the south of Europe, and by the Scotch, English and French as a vegetable, cooked or raw, but chiefly for seasoning. It forms no bulb, but its sheaf of leaves, especially when blanched, is tender and of milder flavor than the onion. Leek is usually a seed-bed crop, and is best when blanched. Varieties are few. 146 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES Soil. — Deep, rich, and moist, in the best of con- dition. Distances. — In the seed-bed, rows apart as conve- nient Sow thickly, and thin to two inches apart in the FIR- 70. Seedlings of Leek. Natural si m. rows. In the field, rows eighteen inches or more apart, plants six to nine inches apart in the rows. Depth for seed. — About an inch. Sow. — Leek may be started under glass, in March or April. Sow outdoors as soon as the ground is fit. Transplant to permanent positions when five to six inches tall, cutting back both top and roots. Plants raised under glass should be hardened off. LEEK 147 Set out according to the result desired. For a green Leek, set as deep as before. For a blanched Leek, set (1) in furrows, five to six inches deep; (2) in holes made with trowel or dibber, same depth. Various other methods are used in different countries, the principle being to set the base of the stem about six inches under ground, not filling in at first, but allowing the rains and subsequent cultivation to level the ground, after which the rows are eartbed-up, but not until the plants are vigorously growing. Culture. — In the above, keep the earth from the heart of the plant. Earth when the plants are growing well. For green Leeks the plants are not earthed-up. For spring crop, Leeks may be sown in August or September and wintered un- der frames, to be set out in spring. This is done chiefly in mild climates. Pick as wanted, by pulling the whole plant. Store in boxas in the cel- lar, or, as Leek is hardy, in FiB ' n ' Loek " Mature - trenches like celery, taking up the plants, roots i all, and setting closely. Diseases and pests, see under Onion. 148 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES LEMON, GARDEN. The Garden Lemon is of the Melon family. See Melon. LENTIL (Lens escxdentd) is an annual leguminous plant grown for its seeds, used either fresh or dried. It is exceedingly nutritious, and is of great importance in the orient and in southern Europe, but is not well suited to our northern climate. Soil. — Light and dry. Dlntames. — Drills about eighteen inches apart. Thin to three inches apart in the rows. Depth. — About one inch. Sow when the ground is fit. Culture. — Preserve the surface-mulch. Harvesting. — When the stems become yellow and the pods turn dark in color, pull the whole plant and dry in the sun. Pick oft' the pods when dry. Store the pods whole, as the Lentils do not keep so well when shelled. LETTUCE (Jxuiuca sativii) is our best- known salad plant, grown for its leaves, which are seldom eaten cooked. It is an annual short-season plant, often used as a succession or companion crop, to follow or precede another crop, or to use the intermediate spaces of a wide-spaced crop while that is coming to maturity. Thus, being hardy, it may precede tender crops, or its heat-resistant varieties may follow strawberries, or may LETTUCE 149 be planted between young plants of the cabbage family. It'is managed partly according to its types, of which botanically there are four: head lettuce, cut- or curled- leaved, the Cos (with upright leaves) and the nairow- leaved. For this last see Asparagus Lettuce, and for practical purposes add to the list the bundling or loose- heading type, which is the earliest of the lettuces. /^a- 7^4 ■■■■., ' ^%: m --, w lettuce scedlines. Natural size. Lettuces vary in color (reddish borders or blotches) and in the shape of the leaves, the edges of some being finely crimped or curled. Seedsmen distinguish between white- and black-seeded lettuces, the former grown chiefly for forcing, the latter chiefly out-of-doors. Lettuce may be grown throughout the winter by the help of forcing methods, not considered here. For outdoor gardening the earliest crop is started under glass, and either set out or allowed to mature in the 160 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES frames. When the ground is in good condition the first outdoor sowing may be made, as Lettuce is very hardy to frost. Successive sowings may be made weekly to fortnightly, or by good management and trans- planting still less often. In the summer v lettuces quickly to seed, and heat- Fir. 7». Plant of heading Lettuce. resisting varie- ties should be chosen; these may be found in all types of Lettuce. On the other hand, the Cos, although historically a hot-weather Lettuce, now exists in earlier varieties. It) the handling of Lettuce the varieties must be used according to season, but the culture of all is practically the same. Lettuce transplants well and is much transplanted, except in the fall in the open ground. Heading is largely a matter of variety. Lettuce should be given clean culture, water, and food, and should be properly thinned. Manure is the best fertilizer. Trade varieties are numberless. Pests and diseases are not troublesome. Soil. — Lettuce will grow in any good garden soil, but best results are to be hod with earth that is light, warm and "quick." Where summers are hot a moister soil is good for the warm -weather kinds. The ground LETTUCE 151 should be in good tilth, and plenty of good i well-rotted, should be spaded in. See tinder Fertilizer. Distances.- — Under glass sow in drills a few inches apart, prick out at the second leaves to four inches apart each way, and set again if they crowd. In the open, seed-bed drills six inches or more apart. Sown where the plants are to stand, drills should be one foot apart. Depth. — Under glass one-fourth inch. In the open one-half to one inch, ac- cording to soil and sea- son. Sow under glass early in March. Outdoors as soon as the ground is fit, and successively every ten days or two weeks there- after. If a row is well managed (as below) some plants being left to de- velop rapidly, and the thinnings transplanted to come on more slowly, sowings need not be ' |T oftener than every three Mw- weeks or even more. Sow early crops in seed-bed ; autumn crops are best sown thinly where they are to stand, and thinned in the rows. 152 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES Thin the seed-bed rows to one to two inches apart for the best results. Transplant at four inches into rows one foot apart, six, nine or twelve inches in the rows, accord- ing to the size at which the plants are wanted. One foot apart each way will usually give room for full development. If not transplanted it is a good plan in home gardening to make an early thinning, so that the plants shall not crowd. When they get to be about five inches tall, growing very close together, thin to three inches apart, and eat or transplant thinnings. Thin again to six inches and finally to a foot apart in the rows, allowing the remaining plants to grow to full size before picking. Culture. — Keep the surface -mulch in good condi- tion. Do not hoe the earth against the plants, nor get earth upon or in them. If watered with liquid manure, or if nitrate of soda is scattered about the plants, take care not to get the fertilizer on the leaves. Fertilizer. — Liquid manure or nitrate of soda may be applied at intervals with benefit if the soil is not rich. But if the ground has been thoroughly enriched with barnyard manure, no further fertilizing is needed. It has been proved by station tests that u after the soil has received a heavy application of stable manure, any application of chemical fertilizers is only thrown away."" "Sulfate of soda, was found to be highly injurious, LETTUCE, ASPARAGUS 153 especially when used with muriate of potash. 1 '' (Farmers 1 Bulletin No. 105.) Pick the crop as wanted, — best in early morning. Successional sowings should be made as above (under Sow), noting that in the heat of summer Lettuce needs careful transplanting, and that late-sown plants do best when sown where they are to stand. Sow for winter use in August or early September, and trans- plant into frames or the greenhouse. Pests. — The cabbage-worm will occasionally attack Lettuce and must be picked by hand. If a plant is found wilted down, dig for a white grub near or beneath it. Such a plant, if the roots have not been entirely cut off, will sometimes start again. Water and give shade. If the plant is found cut off at the surface, dig for the cutworm. For cutworms and white grubs, dress the ground with nitrate of soda, muriate of potash or kainit, and water freely to carry the salts into the ground. LETTUCE, ASPARAGUS. Asparagus Lettuce is mentioned by Vilmorin-Andrieux, and is the narrow- leaved type included above. It is of little importance as a garden vegetable, as it runs to seed quickly. For the table it is gathered when the leaves, with their soft, thick stems, are about a foot high, and is served like asparagus, or used for a salad. It is cultivated like common Lettuce, 154 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES LETTUCE, PERENNIAL. Also given in Vilmorin- Andrieux, "but the product of the plant is so trifling that it is hardly worth cultivating." It resembles the dandelion in growth, and is chiefly used where it grows wild, in the south of Europe and elsewhere. LOVACHE or L0VA6E (Levwtkum officinale) is a plant now little cultivated, but formerly grown for its stems and leaf-stalks, which were used as a pot-herb, or blanched and eaten like celery. The stems and stalks may be candied like angelica. The plant is a hardy perennial, and when once established will yield for several years. It is propagated from seed, but more satisfactorily from root-divisions. Soil. — Any good garden soil. Enrich well with manure if the plantation is to last for some time. Depth of seed, one inch ; of root-divisions, as before. Sow seeds as soon as they ripen, in midsummer, in seed-bed, rows one foot apart; thin to six inches. Transplant the following spring to two feet by eighteen inches. Set root-divisions in spring at the same distances. Earth-up like celery, in the fall. Gather. — For greens, pick the leaves as wanted when the plant is well established. Cut the stalks when blanched. Do not use the plants for both purposes in the same year. Renew or root-prune every three or four years. LOVAGE, SCOTCH— LICORICE 155 LOVAGE, SCOTCH (Ligusticurn Scotkum) is a plant now little known, formerly used as a pot-herb. It may be grown like common Lovage, above, but in moist ground. The root is sometimes eaten. LOVE-APPLE is Tomato. LOVE-IN-A-MIST. See NigeUa sativa. LICORICE (Glycirrhiza glabra) is a perennial plant grown for its root, from which is extracted the Licorice of commerce, and occasionally domestic medicines, for troubles of the throat, and for colds. It is best propa- gated by means of its running root. Soil. — A medium loam, deep and well enriched. Distances. — Three feet by eighteen inches. Depth. — fTwo to three inches. Set out in spring. Culture. — Give clean tillage; in the fall cut down to the ground. Cutting for the roots should not be begun for three years. After that cut regularly in the fall, for use and for cuttings, each of which for propagation should be six inches long and have one or more buds or eyes. Store cuttings in sand in the cellar. Mulch over winter, north of New York city. To make licorice^ crush and boil the roots ; evaporate the product, which may be rolled into sticks while still 156 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES soft. When pure and well made, the licorice should dissolve entirely in water. The woody roots are. often kept for use. From seed. — Sow very thinly, when the ground is fit, in rows eighteen inches apart; depth, one inch; thin to one foot. Give clean culture. Transplant in fall or spring to the permanent distances. LIQUORICE. See Licorice. MALLOW, or Curled Mallow (Malva crispa), is an annual plant grown for garnishing. It is often grown in beds, and, if allowed, will seed itself from year to year. Soil. — Any good garden earth. Distances. — In seed-bed, rows apart as convenient; permanent distances, two by two feet. Depth of seed, one inch; of seedlings, as before. Sow in seed-bed when heavy frosts are past. Thin to three inches. Transplant at five to six inches to permanent dis- tances. Pick as wanted when the plants are established. MALLOW, JEW'S. Jew's Mallow (Corchorus olito- rius\ is a very tender salad-plant, scarcely known in America. Sow when frosts are past and cultivate like spinach. MALLOW, MARSH— MARJORAM, POT 157 MALLOW, MARSH. See Marsh-Mallow. MANGEL-WURZEL is a variety of Beet, grown for stock -feeding, very rarely for the table. It is grown like Beet, distances about nine by eighteen inches. For the table, pick when young. MANILA-NUT. See Peanut. MARIGOLD, or Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis), is grown for its flowers, which when dried are used in seasoning, or in coloring butter or omelettes. The plant is a hardy annual, and blooms continuously from summer till heavy frosts. Varieties are single- and double-flowered. Soil. — Any good garden soil. Distances. — Rows one foot or more apart. Depth. — About one inch. Sow when the ground is fit. Thin to nine or twelve inches. Thinnings may be transplanted. Pick when the flowers are well open, dry slowly, and store. MARJORAM, POT. Pot Marjoram (Origanum indgare) is a perennial herb, very hardy, grown for its leaves and tender shoots, used in seasoning. It is grown from seed, from root-divisions or from cuttings. 158 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES Soil. — Any good garden earth. Distances. — Rows one foot apart. Depth. — About one inch. Sow when the ground is fit, in seed-bed or where the plants are to stand. Thin or set out to one foot each way. Take root-divinons in spring or fall. Take cuttings in summer; set in shady place, and water till established. Cut the leaves as wanted when the plant is estab- lished. Re-set or trim roots every three or four years. MARJORAM, SWEET. Sweet or Annual Marjoram is of the same family as the above, being O. Majorana. Although a perennial, it seldom survives a cold winter, and is usually grown as an annual, propagating by seed. It is grown for its leaves and tender tips, of bitter and spicy taste, used in seasoning and in domestic medicine. Soil. — Any good earth. Distances. — One foot each way. Depth of seed, about one inch; of root-divisions, as before. Sow under glass in March, or outdoors when heavy frosts are past. Thin or set out to the permanent distances. Take root-divisions in spring. MARSH-MALLOW— MARTYNIA 159 Cut for use as wanted, when once the plant is well established. Protect heavily north of New York city. MARROW, VEGETABLE. See under Squash. MARSH-MALLOW (Althaea officinalis) is a woody perennial herb, grown for its mucilaginous roots, used as a demulcent and in the manufacture of candy. It is grown from seed or from root-divisions. Soil. — Any good garden earth, but preferably moist. Distances. — Two feet bv one. Depth of seed, one inch; of root-divisions, as be- fore. Sow when the ground is fit, in seed-bed or perma- nent positions. Thin or transplant to permanent distances. Take root-divisions in spring. Dig the roots for use as wanted, after two years' growth. Or Root-prune in spring, leaving parts of the roots to continue growth. MARTYNIA, offered by seedsmen in two varieties, Proboscidea and Craniolaria, is a hot-weather plant, sometimes called Unicorn Plant, grown for its seed- pods, which are picked while young and tender, and used for pickles. It may be started in the house, in 160 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES which ca.se it is best grown in pots for setting out, and treated like tomato. Or it may be started in a hotbed, and allowed to mature there without transplanting, gaining much time over ordinary outdoor culture. Soil. — Warm, dry, and quick. Distances. — Three by three feet, or more if the soil ~-^«* is very rich. s.^\ Depth.— One inch. ' dass in April, and trans- Fig. 71. Martynia pods. One-third natural aiie. plant into pots as the plants crowd. Sow outdoors at the end of May or early June, several seeds to the hill, and Thin to one plant in the hill. Set out when frosts are past, about June 1. Culture. — Preserve the surface mulch. Pick the pods while still tender, or they are worth- less; continue picking as thev develop. Seed-bed culture is possible, if the position of the MARTYNIA— MINT 161 bed is warm and sheltered, to bring them forward faster than in the open field. Thin to six inches apart.