578 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [Dec. 
rooms for the table even in the most rigorous seasons. Observe 
the general directions given in page 516, &c. 
Forcing Asparagus. 
Hot-beds may now be made for forcing asparagus, to supply the 
table about the latter end of January; for at this season it will be 
full six weeks from the time of making the beds before the aspa- 
ragus will be fit to cut, presuming the beds to be kept of a due 
temperature of heat. For the method of making and managing 
them see page 121, &c. 
Ordinary Work. 
If the weather continues open carry dung into the quarters of 
the kitchen garden, spread it, and trench the ground, laying it in 
high sloping ridges to be mellowed by the frost, &c. 
When the ground is frozen that it cannot be dug, cart or carry 
in manure, and lay it down in convenient places, to have it at hand 
when the frost goes off; repair the fences of the garden where ne- 
cessary; if you have any seeds remaining in their pods or capsules, 
beat or rub out and clean them so as to be ready for sowing when 
wanted; prepare all tools which may be necessary in spring, that 
there may be no delay when the season is favourable for commenc- 
ing your early cropping. 
Provide from the woods, &c. pea-sticks and bean-poles of every 
size; dress and point them, that they maybe in complete readiness 
when wanted; collect all your old sticks and poles which are yet 
fit for use, and lay them with the new ones under the protection of 
some shed to prevent their rotting by wet, &c. 
SOUTHERN STATES. 
In such of the southern states as have but very slight frosts in 
winter, you may, in addition to other necessary work, sow on warm 
borders for early crops, small quantities of carrots, parsneps, onions, 
beets, radish, lettuce, spinage and parsley, &c.; earth up late celery 
and cardoons, tie up endive for blanching, and plant out in rows 
up to their heads such of the cabbage tribe as are intended for seed, 
covering their heads with straw if found necessary, to preserve 
them from frost or wet. Take care to set each kind apart by itself, 
and at a considerable distance from any other, for if contagious, the 
farina of the one when in blossom would impregnate the seeds in 
the ovaries of the other, whereby the whole would become bastard- 
ized, and you would have neither kind in its original purity. 
Plant early Mazagan, Lisbon, long-pod, and Windsor beans, and 
sow early-frame, golden, and Charleton hotspur peas; earth up the 
crops of peas and beans which were sowed in the preceding months, 
as they advance in growth, and if there is any danger to be appre- 
hended from frost, cover them at night and in severe weather with 
