THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



under shelter, where it would be protected from 

 the action of the elements, and to fork it over often 

 during the winter to prevent heating, and then to 

 draw it on the land early in spring while yet the 

 ground is frozen enough to get on to it easily. In 

 a small garden plot it is seldom, if ever, necessary 

 to use much rough manure, and it will be well to 

 fork out all the cornstalks and coarse material and 

 pile them in a heap to burn, or better compost 

 them, as they are nothing but a nuisance in a 

 garden. 



In February the wood ashes which may have ac- 

 cumulated during winter may be spread on the 

 asparagus beds and along the rhubarb rows, and, 

 if there are enough, about the fruit trees and berry 

 bushes. 



If one has a few choice fruit trees it will be time 

 well spent to give them a coat of whitewash at the 

 approach of severe weather and again at intervals 

 during the winter, making at least three applica- 

 tions, the last to precede the cold waves of Feb- 

 ruary and March, according to locality. This will 

 protect the trees by preventing the absorption of 

 sun heat and enable them to withstand the rigours 

 of the winter. 



