Dec.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 577 



much less so than to sow the seed in January or February, and 

 nurse, and once or twice transplant the young seedlings during the 

 remainder of the winter and spring; besides, the autumn sown 

 plants when taken proper care of, will produce much larger and 

 better heads than those sown in winter or spring, and be earlier and 

 more certain. 



The early Smyrna, York, sugar-loaf, and other tender kinds of 

 cabbage plants, require exactly the same treatment as the cauli- 

 flower, but being more hardy less covering will be necessary, and 

 more air may with safety be admitted. There is nothing more in- 

 jurious to either, than to be kept too closely covered; therefore no 

 opportunity, if but for half an hour at a time, ought to be omitted 

 to admit light and air, when it can be done with any tolerable de- 

 gree of safety. 



The Savoy, flat Dutch, drum-head, and other late kinds, will 

 keep when planted in warm borders with very little protection; 

 arches made of old hoops, &c, should be erected over them on 

 which to lay mats, straw, branches of evergreen trees, or shrubs, 

 &c. For further particulars, see page 513. 



Cure of Lettuce Plants. 



The care of lettuce plants being the same now as in the ensuing 

 month, I refer you for the necessary instructions to page 18, and 

 also to page 512. 



Small Salading. 



Where small salading, such as cresses, rape, mustard, lettuce, 

 radish, &c. is required at this season, these seeds must be sown in 

 a hot-bed, protected with a good frame and glasses, and also suffi- 

 cient covering of mats, &c. , 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 

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

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

 extremely 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 it 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 mush- 

 4 A 



