576 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [NOV. 



often for an entire year } whereas bark generally turns cold soon after 

 its violent heat is gone off, which obliges the gardener to fork it up 

 frequently in order to revive the heat. 



The sooner the leaves are raked up after they fall from the trees 

 the better, as the quality and fermenting substance will naturally 

 decrease during the time they are exposed to the weather. 



When raked up they should be carried immediately into some open 

 shed, and there thrown into a heap to settle and ferment. In this 

 place tread them well, and water them a little if you find they are 

 rather dry. The heap should be at least six or seven feet in thick- 

 ness, and covered with old mats, as well to promote a general fer- 

 mentation as to prevent the upper leaves from being blown away by 

 the wind. They should be suffered to remain in this state for four 

 or five weeks, by which time they will be properly prepared for the 

 pits, and will not settle down much after. In putting them into the 

 pits, if they appear dry, water them a little and tread them in layers, 

 exceedingly well, till the pits are quite full : then cover the whole 

 with tan to the thickness of two inches, and tread it well till the 

 surface becomes smooth and even. On this place your pots of pines 

 or other tender plants in the manner they are to stand, filling up the 

 spaces between them with tan as you proceed, row by row. 



After this, the leaves require no further trouble the whole season 

 through, as they will retain a constant and regular heat for twelve 

 months, without either stirring or turning. 



Leaves mixed with stable dung make excellent hot-beds, which 

 preserve their heat much longer than when made of dung only. 



NOVEMBER. 



WORK TO BE DONE IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



As this is a period in which much may be done towards the lay- 

 ing out and preparing of new kitchen gardens for the ensuing sea- 

 son, &c., I refer you for general instructions on that subject to page 

 115, &c. 



SPINAGE, CORN-SALAD, AND WINTER-CRESSES. 



You should now be very attentive to the keeping of your winter 

 spinage free from weeds, and to the thinning of the plants where 

 they stand too close ; otherwise they will not be sufficiently strong 

 and firm to endure the severity of the approaching frosts. 



Corn-salad and winter-cresses should be treated as directed for 

 spinage, and for the same reason ; but the distance of two or three 

 inches, plant from plant, will be sufficient for these. This should be 

 done early in the month, for it is not prudent either to thin or weed 



