550 THE KlTCHENtGARDEN. [NOV. 



spade deep, and cast the earth thereof equally between and on each 

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

 time, a neat rounding form ; finish by casting up with a shovel the 

 loose earth out of the bottoms of the trenches evenly over the ridges, 

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

 diately run off; on which account the trenches ought to have a 

 gentle declivity, as a lodgement of water about the roots in winter, 

 is the greatest evil and danger they have to encounter; even great- 

 er than the most severe frost of our climates. 



The beds are to remain so, until there is an appearance 

 of hard frost, when they should be covered with light dry litter, 

 straw, leaves of trees, fern, peas-haulm 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 winter, and in March 

 they are to have their spring dressing as directed in page 195. 



When your artichoke plantation wants manure, lay on a coat of 

 old rotten dung previous to the digging of the trenches, and cover 

 it over with the earth as you throw it up ; in the spring following 

 dig it in. 



Forcing Asparagus. 



This is a very proper time to begin to force asparagus in hot- 

 beds ; for the method see page 115. 



You should now, previous to the setting in of hard frost, cover 

 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 

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

 some gardeners. 



Onions. 



The young crops of Welch onion, or Allium Jisiulosum, should be 

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

 See. 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 af- 

 fords an early spring sallad for boiling, and being perennial in root 

 is deserving 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 



