Nov.] 



THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



255 



must exhaust the ground on which it grows ; and, being a 

 perennial plant, not often renewed by sowing, or planting, it 

 requires a proportional quantity of good manure to support it. 

 Salt is a good manure for asparagus, the subtile particles of 

 which penetrate to a gTeat depth. This should, however, be 

 used with discretion. 



Good stable-dung, which has not been exhausted in hot- 

 beds, should be chosen, and put on in quantity according to its 

 quality, fi'om six to twelve inches. The rains, in winter, will 

 wash the juices of the dung down to the roots. Where sea- 

 weed can bo procured, it is probably the best manure for 

 asparagus ; but where that cannot be got, salt may be used 

 mixed with the dung : its parts will descend more gi'adually 

 along with the juices of the dung, than when applied as a 

 simple. 



COVERING UP SEA-KALE. 



The beds of young sea-kale, that are not intended to be 

 forced, should be covered up as before directed for asparagus. 

 Observing, first, to clear the ground of weeds, and to fork 

 up the surface. 



The beds intended for cutting in spring should be also 

 forked up, and cleared of weeds, and covered from five to 

 fifteen inches with leaves, which will now be in abundance; 

 covering the strong and old roots thicker than the young and 

 weak ones. A few branches, or old boards, may be laid over 

 the whole, to prevent the leaves being blown away, and they 

 will require no farther attention till spring, when they will be 

 fit for cutting. 



The beds of sea-kale intended for forcing, should also be 

 forked up and covered with leaves, sufficiently thick to keep 

 the frost out, and to render them more easily got at, when 

 the operation of forcing is to commence : for which, see Forc- 

 ing Garden. 



CARDOONS. 



Cardoons should now be finally earthed up, and protected 

 as is advised for celery. 



