NOV.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 583 



the asparagus beds containing the plants which you intend to force 

 during the ensuing months, with as much straw, or light litter of 

 some kind, as will prevent the ground from becoming frozen, so that 

 you can take up the roots with convenience and without injury when 

 wanted. This method is preferable to taking them up and deposit- 

 ing them in a cellar, in sand or earth, which is practised by some 

 gardeners. 



ONIONS. 



The young crops of Welsh onion, or Allium fistulosum, should 

 be kept free from weeds ; some may be thinned out for use in salads, 

 &c., the remaining plants will stand the winter even if their foliage 

 decay, and produce a plentiful supply early in spring. 



Dried onions should be occasionally examined, and such as show 

 a tendency to rot carefully picked out. 



PATIENCE DOCK. 



The Rumex patientia, or patience dock, being a plant that affords 

 an early spring salad for boiling, and being perennial in root, is de- 

 serving of a place in the garden. The leaves are very large, long 

 and succulent, and are produced in great abundance ; the plant may 

 be propagated by sowing the seed any time this month while the 

 ground continues open, and the plants will rise freely in spring; or 

 you may sow the seeds in March or early in April, but those sown 

 at this time will make stronger and earlier plants ; the seeds may be 

 sown pretty thick in drills eighteen inches asunder, and covered 

 about half an inch deep; when the plants are about two inches high, 

 thin them to the distance of eight inches from one another, and so 

 let them remain, always keeping them free from weeds. It may 

 also be propagated by offsets from the root taken off in the spring 

 or late autumn months, and planted in rows at the above distances, 

 and by heading it down frequently during summer, as it starts to 

 seed, you wiU increase the crops of foliage. 



DUNG AND TRENCH GROUND. 



In the beginning of this month, dung and trench the ground that 

 is intended for early crops, and lay it up in high narrow sloping 

 ridges, particularly if it be any way stiff, or of a heavy nature, to re- 

 ceive the benefit of the winter frosts, &c., which will enrich, mellow, 

 refresh, and sweeten it ; besides, by getting as much of this work 

 performed now as can be conveniently done, it will greatly forward 

 and assist your affairs in spring, when hurried by a pressure of other 

 business. 



Should the frost set in towards the latter end of the month so aa 

 to bind up the ground, and prevent the operation of trenching, you 

 may cart or wheel manure into the different quarters where wanted, 

 which will help to forward your business considerably. 



