THE CULINARY GARDEN, 



75 



care cannot be taken to preserve them ; for sometimes a severe 

 winter makes great havoc among them ; and, in spring, young 

 sets to recruit the plantations are often very scarce. 



EARTH UP CELERY. 



Take the advantage of a dry day before the setting in of 

 frost, to earth up celery that requires it. But this had better 

 be deferred, if the plants be not quite dry, for if earthed up, 

 when wet, they become cankered, and many will consequently 

 be unfit for use. The earthing up of this crop, if properly 

 done at previously stated intervals, and never allowing them 

 to shoot too far without mould, will render any further earthing 

 up (that is, for full grown crops) unnecessary, as they will 

 blanch when taken into the shed, or cellar, and buried among 

 sand to within a few inches of their whole length. But for 

 successional crops, let the earth be well broken, and laid up 

 to the plants lightly, that they may not be crushed down nor 

 bruised, raising the earth very near to the top of the plants ; 

 for if severe frost sets in, it would destroy, or at least greatly 

 damage such parts as are above ground, and would occasion a 

 great part of the interior to decay or rot downward. 



As these plants are required for use every day, if the ground 

 be fi'ozen hard, they cannot be easily taken up : therefore, at 

 the approach of severe weather, either cover some of the rows 

 with dry long litter, which will prevent the ground from being 

 frozen, and will also protect the plants ; or, a certain number 

 may be taken up in a dry day, for the service of the family, 

 carried into a sheltered place, and there laid in dry earth, or 

 sand till they be wanted for use. 



MUSHROOMS. 



Mushroom-beds should be carefully attended to at this 

 season. They should have sufficient covering to defend them 

 effectually from the frost, rain, or snow ; and such covering 

 should not be less than twelve inches thick ; should heavy rain 

 or snow have penetrated quite through the covering, it must 



