22 



BUST'S FAMILY KITCHEN GARDENER. 



thein covered during the^inie of planting, and not allowing the 

 roots to get dry. Stretch a line lengthwise along the bed. nine 

 inches from the edge, an 1 with a spade cut a small furrow, six 

 inches deep. Haying the plants ready, set a row along the trench, 

 nine inches apart, with the crown of the roots two inches below 

 the surface, drawing a little earth upon them to fix them as 

 placed. Having finished a row. cover them directly with the 

 earth that has been thrown out of the furrow, raking it regularly 

 and to an equal depth over the crown of the plants, Proceed 

 to open another furrow a foot from the first : plant and finish it 

 as above, when you will have four rows to each bed. After all is 

 planted, rake the beds lengthwise, drawing off all stones and rub- 

 bish ; dress the surface neatly and evenly. Let the edges be 

 lined out in exact order, allowing two feet to each alley. As 

 these alleys will be of little service the first season, and no waste 

 ground should ever be seen in a garden, dig them up and plant 

 a row of cabbage in each. Nothing further will be required 

 during the Summer than to destroy all weeds. The following 

 Winter cover them to the depth of three or four inches with rotten 

 manure, to keep the crowns from sun and frost : if. in the Spring, 

 the earth is found to have settled in any part, the deficiency 

 must be made up with more mould. It is a common practice 

 to sow Radishes upon the beds, but it is an injurious one. as it 

 robs the ground of a great portion of its nutriment, so essen- 

 tial to their luxuriant growth. The plants are permitted the 

 two first years to run up to stalks, that strong crowns may be 

 formed at their base for the future crop. 



After the third year, the beds will require the following 

 mode of treatment. From the middle of October to the end 

 of November give them their winter dressing, which consists 

 in cutting down the stalks close to the ground and clearing the 

 beds from weeds : drawing them off at the same time with a 

 rake into the alleys, to be buried or taken to the compost 

 heap to be mixed up with other litter and again returned to the 

 soil. Cover the whole of the bed with two or three inche-s of raa< 



