ARTICHOKE. 25 



mild, that they may have all possible advantage of growth, 

 and be gradually inured to the increasing cold weather ; 

 but it should not be deferred too late, lest by the sudden set- 

 ting in of hard frost, to which we are subject in the Nor- 

 thern States ; the work be neglected, and the plants 

 consequently exposed to devastation and loss. 



In the first place, cut all the large leaves close to the 

 ground, leaving the small ones which rise from the hearts 

 of the plants ; after this, line and mark out a trench in the 

 middle, between e;ich row, from fourteen to sixteen inches 

 wide, presuming that the rows are five feet apart, as directed. 

 Then lightly dig the surface of the beds from trench to 

 trench, burying the weed.*, and as you proceed, gather the 

 warth around the crowns of the plants to the height of about 

 six inches, placing it in gently between the young rising 

 leaves, without burying them entirely under it; this done, 

 dig the trenches one spade deep, and distribute the arth 

 equally between and on e;ich side of the plants, so as to 

 level the ridges, giving them at the same time a neat round- 

 ing form ; finish, by casting up with a shovel the loose earth 

 out of the bottom of the trenches evenly over the ridges, in 

 order that the water occasioned by heavy rains, &c. may 

 immediately run oft'; on which account the trenches ougiit 

 to have a gentle declivity, as the lodgement of water about 

 the roots in winter, is the greatest evil and danger they have 

 to encounter, even greater than the most severe frosts to 

 which we are subject 



Tiie beds are to remain so, uniil there is an appearance of 

 hard frost, when they should be covered with light dung, 

 Utter, leaves of trees, or the like, the better to preserve the 

 crowns and roots from its rigour. In this manner, the roots 

 will remain in perfect safety all the winter. As soon as the 

 very severe frosts are over, the beds must be uncovered, and 

 when you perceive the young shoots begin to appear above 

 ground, or rather one or two inches up, then, and not before, 

 proceed to levelling down the beds into the alleys or 

 trenches, rounding them in a neat manner; then dig in the 

 short manure, and loosen all the earth around the plant* 



3 



