142 



in thickness, just covering it with soil from tlie alleys. 

 In this state allow them to remain during winter, and 

 early in March run it through with a fork down to 

 the level of the bed when covered. {Hort. Soc. 

 Journ. ii. 40.) 



Autumn Dressing. — During the whole summer the 

 beds must be kept well hand-weeded, and during that 

 time and in spring we quite agree with those who 

 recommend the plants should be supplied with manure 

 abundantly. Yet we are quite sure that autumn- 

 manuring ought not to be dispensed with, for, from 

 actual experiment, we know that beds alike almost 

 surfeited with liquid manure during the summer, and 

 similarly dressed in the spring, yielded much less from 

 that half of them which was allowed to remain with- 

 out the addition of any fertilizers in the autumn. At 

 the close of October or early in November the stalks 

 must be cut down and cleared away, and the weeds 

 hoed off into the paths, care being taken not to com- 

 mence whilst the stems are at all green, for if they 

 are cut down whilst in a vegetating state the roots are 

 very prone to shoot again, and consequently are pro- 

 portionably weakened. The dung we employ is that 

 of the pig, mixed with straw and well decomposed. 

 We sprinkle a little earth over this manure, but leave 

 that in the alleys quite untouched except by the hoe. > 



Spring Dressing. — In February or March, early in 

 proportion to the mildness of the season, slightly 



