34 KITCHEN-GARDENING. 



the plants, so as to level the ridges, giving them at the same 

 time a neat, rounding form. 



The beds may remain in this condition until there is an ap- 

 pearance of hard frost, when they should be covered with light 

 dung, litter, or leaves of trees, to preserve the crowns and roots 

 from intense cold. In this manner the roots will remain in 

 perfect safety all the winter. As soon as the severe frosts are 

 over, the beds must be uncovered, and when the young shoots 

 begin to appear above ground, then, and not till then, level 

 down the beds, throwing the earth into the alleys or trenches, 

 and round them in a neat manner. Then dig in the short 

 manure, and loosen all the earth around the plants. At the 

 same time, examine the number of shoots arising on each 

 stool, and select three of the strongest and healthiest on every 

 stool, which are to remain ; all above that number are to be 

 broken off close to the roots with the hand, unless you want 

 some for making new plantations, in which case an extra num- 

 ber for that purpose is to remain on the parent plants, until 

 they are about eight or ten inches high, when they are to be 

 slipped off, and planted in a bed prepared in the same manner 

 as directed for the young plants, taking care at the same time 

 to close the earth about the crowns of the roots, and draw it 

 up a little to the remaining suckers. 



The spring dressing should be given when the plants are in 

 the above-described state, whether that occurs in February, 

 March, or April, occasioned by the difference of climate in 

 the respective States, or by the earliness or lateness of the 

 spring. 



The gardeners near London generally take off the side suck- 

 ers, or small Artichokes, when they are about the size of a 

 hen's egg. These meet with a ready sale in the markets, and 

 the principal heads that are left are always larger and more 

 handsome. The maturity of a full-grown Artichoke is appa- 

 rent by the opening of the scales; and it should always be 

 cut off before the flower appears in the centre; the stem 

 should be cut close to the ground at the same time. 



