THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



149 



ripen their fruit in most seasons, if sown on a slight ridge of 

 hot dung, and left to grow to maturity where they are sown, if 

 only covered with hand or bell-glasses ; but this mode of cul- 

 ture is only applicable to situations, where neatness is less 

 attended to than convenience. In whatever situation they may 

 be planted, it is necessary that they be set in a rich compost, 

 three-fourths of which should be rotten dung. 



DESTROY SLUGS, &C. 



When slugs, caterpillars, &c. begin to appear, turn young 

 ducks into the garden, once or twice a week ; but never let them 

 remain longer than two or three days at a time, as they soon 

 tire of their food, or become indolent from satiety. While in 

 the garden, they should have no food given them ; but r little 

 water is very necessary, if there be none in the garden. 



But the most effectual method of preventing the ravages of 

 the slugs, is to have them gathered by the hand every morn- 

 ing, as long as they appear numerous, carefully looking over 

 those crops to which they are the most attached. If this 

 method be slow, it is nevertheless sure. The market-gardeners 

 in the vicinity of London scatter the leaves of cabbages, or 

 lay patches of straw upon the gi'ound, under which the slugs 

 retreat in the morning before the effects of the sun are too 

 powerful for them ; these leaves, or straw, are examined during 

 the day, and all the slugs are either gathered and destroyed, 

 or are well sprinkled with lime water, which is certain to kill 

 them. 



WORK TO BE DONE IN THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



Let all the walks in, and connected with the kitchen-garden 

 be now laid down, if not done in March ; nothing gives a gar- 

 den a neater appearance than the walks being kept in good 

 order. Let all the coverings that may have been used to pro- 

 tect either winter or early spring crops be now cleared away. 

 Rough dig all vacant ground, and hoe and rake all the small 

 borders. Use the hoe freely among crops of winter onions, 

 spinach, &c. Destroy all weeds as they appear, particularly 



