Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/73

 front to back, if there be severe frost. The earth should be within eight inches of the glass, to keep the plants as near the light as possible. The best sorts are the Early Cabbage and Royal Cabbage. Plant them eight to ten inches apart, each way, and alternately opposite. Give occasional watering, picking off all decayed leaves. If the Winter proves very severe, surround the frame or pit with dry leaves from the woods; this precaution can nearly always be conveniently adopted; leaves being everywhere plentiful, a store should always be at hand. In all the southern States, every variety of the Lettuce is perfectly hardy, and can be grown in perfection from October to May. The varieties of Cos heart freely, if tied as recommended for Endive, and are greatly benefited by that simple operation.

Marjoram is a native of the South of Europe. It has a pleasant odor, and a warm, aromatic, bitterish taste. It is used for seasoning soups, and other matters of cookery, and considered a wholesome ingredient, and beneficial in nervous complaints. There are two varieties, the Sweet and the Pot Marjoram; the former, an annual, and the latter an herbaceous plant, or a plant that lasts from year to year.

.—Marjoram seed is of the very smallest description, and has to be sown early in April. On ground finely prepared, make a mark along the line with the point of a stick, merely to show where the seed is to be dropped, which do very thinly and evenly, then cover up with the back of the rake. The rows should be ten inches apart. As soon as the plants appear, thin them out to two inches apart. When the plant offers to bloom, cut the stems and dry them in the shade.