DEC.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 557 



cient covering of mats. Sec. but care must be taken not to cover the 

 seeds deeper with earth, than what is barely sufficient to hide 

 them. 



Keep the glasses constantly over them, and admit air to the plants 

 every day when the weather is mild, by raising the lights a little 

 behind, otherwise they will be apt to become mouldy and de^ 

 cay. It is almost unnecessary to say that the glasses must be kept 

 well covered every night, and even in the day time during extreme? 

 ly severe weather. 



Mushrooms. 



Particular care must now be taken to preserve the mushroom 

 beds from frost or wet, either of which would destroy the spawn, 

 and render the beds unproductive. They must consequently be 

 covered with a sufficient depth of dry straw, and over this mats: 

 after heavy rains or snow they should be examined, and if you find 

 the covering next the earth of the beds wet, take it totally away and 

 immediately replace it with dry straw. Where the necessary and 

 proper care is taken, there will be a constant supply of mushrooms 

 for the table, even in the most rigorous seasons. Observe the gene- 

 ral directions given in page 507, Sec. 



Forcing Asparagus. 



Hot-beds may now be made for forcing asparagus.* to supply the 

 table about the latter end of January ; for at this season, it will be 

 full six weeks from the time of making the beds, before the aspa- 

 ragus will be fit to cut, presuming the beds to be kept of a due tem- 

 perature of heat. For the method of making and managing them, 

 see page 1 15, kc. 



Ordinary Work. 



If the weather continues open carry dung into the quarters of the 

 kitchen-garden, spread it, and trench the ground, laying it in high 

 sloping ridges to be mellowed by the frost, &c. 



When the ground is frozen that it cannot be dug, cart or carry 

 in manure, and lay it down in convenient places, to have it at 

 hand when the frost goes off; repair the fences of the garden where 

 necessary ; if you have any seeds remaining in their pods or cap- 

 sules, beat or rub cut and clean them, so as to be ready for sow- 

 ing when wanted ; prepare all tools which may be necessary in 

 spring, that there may be no delay when the season is favourable 

 for commencing your early cropping. 



Provide from the woods, &c. pea-sticks, and bean-poles, of every 

 size ; dress and point them, that they may be in complete rea- 

 diness when wanted ; collect all your old sticks and poles which 

 are yet fit for use, and lay them with the new ones under the pro- 

 tection of some shed, to prevent their rotting by wet, &c. 



