Dec] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 579 



long dry straw, which can be conveniently removed when a favour- 

 able change takes place, and laid on again when found necessary. 



Plant out garlic, rocambole, and shallots, likewise large onions, 

 for seed, and sow as directed in March the seeds of rhubarb, sea- 

 kale, skerrets, alesanders, dill, and such other kinds of seeds as do 

 not vegetate freely when kept out of the ground till spring. 



THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



Improving the Borders, &fc. 



You may now carry well-rotted old dung, rich earth, or compost, 

 and spread it on the borders in which are planted wall or espalier 

 trees, this will protect the roots during winter: in spring, when dug 

 in, it will add new vigour to the trees, and the advantage will be 

 very evident in the ensuing crops. Standard fruit trees of every 

 kind will be greatly improved by similar treatment, especially if 

 the ground is become poor or any way exhausted. 



Protecting the roots of new -planted Trees. 



In the early part of this month, if omitted in November, you 

 should lay wispy dung, straw, or long litter of some kind over the 

 roots of those trees which were planted last spring or in the pre- 

 ceding months, to prevent the frost from having too great an effect 

 on their young and yet tender fibres; this in very rigorous seasons 

 often does considerable injury to young trees, and sometimes lays 

 the foundation of diseases which ultimately destroy them. 



Figs in particular will require this attention, and besides, the 

 tops and stems of the tender kinds should be covered with mats, or 

 other suitable protection where the frosts are extremely severe. 



Pruning Apples and Pears on Espaliers, fyb. 



Apples and pears being perfectly hardy, may now be pruned if 

 the weather happens to be mild, agreeably to the directions given 

 in page 25; but if this is not deemed necessary on account of dis- 

 patching business when it can conveniently be done, it will be rather 

 better to defer pruning till the latter end of February, unless you 

 do it before the severe frosts set in. 



As to the pruning of stone fruit trees, I would not recommend 

 it to be done in the middle or eastern states at this season, for the 

 reasons assigned in page 223, &C, but in the southern states it may 

 be now performed with the greatest safety. 



Gooseberries and currants being extremely hardy, may be pruned 

 in any of the winter months; but where it is intended to propagate 

 the best kinds from the cuttings, it will not be advisable to prune 



