520 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [Oct. 
the inside immediately over the plants with dry straw, thus they 
will be protected from wet and frost and will whiten eflEectually 
under the covering of straw, which should be turned occasionally 
to prevent that part next the plants and earth from becoming 
mouldy. 
For further particulars respecting the preservation of endive see 
next month. 
Raising young Mint and Tarragon for use in Winter. 
Where young mint and tarragon is in request at all seasons, you 
may, towards the end of this month, make a slight hot-bed, and set 
the plants therein, as directed in page 19j this done, put on the 
glasses, and observe to raise them behind every day to admit air, 
and prevent the young rising shoots fron\ being scorched by the 
effects of a too powerful sun beaming on the lights whilst close 
shut. The young productions will be fit for use in about three 
weeks or a month, and afford a supply for a considerable time. 
Winter dressing of Asparagus Beds. 
-Towards the end of this month if the stalks of your asparagus 
turn yellow, which is a sign of their having finished their growth 
for the season, cut them down close to the earth and carry them oft' 
the groundj clear the beds carefully from weeds, eradicating them 
effectually and drawing them into the alleys. 
Asparagus beds in general will be greatly benefitted by an annual 
dressing of good manure, and nothing is better or more suitable for 
them than the dung of old hot-beds; but if that is not to be had, 
well rotted stable manure will answer; let it be laid equally over 
the beds one, two, or three inches deep, according to necessity, 
after which stretch a line, and with a spade mark out the alleys 
from about eighteen inches to two feet wide, agreeably to their 
original dimensions. 
Then dig the alleys one spade deep, and spread a considerable 
part of the earth evenly over the beds; and as you advance let the 
weeds which were raked off" into the alleys be dug into the bottom 
of the trenches and covered a proper depth with earth; observe to 
make the edges of the beds straight, full, and neat, and to finish 
your work in a becoming manner, giving a moderate rounding to 
the beds, especially if the ground be inclined to wet. 
In the southern states there may be planted in each alley a row 
of early cabbage plants; but in the middle and eastern states it 
would be well to fill them up with straw or old litter, well trampled 
down, which would in some measure prevent the frost from enter- 
ing that way to the asparagus roots. 
The seedling asparagus which was sown last spring should also 
now have a slight dressing, that is, to clear the bed from weeds, 
and then to spread an inch or two in depth of dry rotten dung over 
it to defend the crowns of the plants from frost. 
The asparagus which is intended for forcing, will likewise require 
