Nov.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 559 
spade deep, and cast the earth thereof equally between and on each 
side the plants, so as to level the ridges, giving them at the same 
time, a neat rounding form; finish by casting up with a shovel the 
loose earth out of the bottoms of the trenches evenly over the ridges, 
in order that the water occasioned by heavy rains, &c. may imme- 
diately run off; on which account the trenches ought to have a gen- 
tle declivity, as a lodgement of water about the roots in winter, is 
the greatest evil and danger they have to encounter; even greater 
than the most severe frost of our climates. 
The beds are to remain so, until there is an appearance of hard 
frost, when they should be covered with light dry litter, straw, leaves 
of trees, fern, peas-haulm or the like, the better to preserve the 
crowns and roots from its rigour. In this manner the roots will re- 
main in perfect safety all winter, and in March they are to have 
their spring dressing as directed in page 203. 
When your artichoke plantation wants manure, lay on a coat of 
old rotten dung previous to the digging of the trenches, and cover 
it over with the earth as you throw it up; in the spring following dig 
it in. 
Forcing Asparagus. 
This is a very proper time to begin to force asparagus in hot-beds; 
for the method see page 123. 
You should now, previous to the setting in of hard frost, cover 
the asparagus-beds, containing the plants which you intend to force 
during the ensuing months, with as much straw, or light litter of 
some kind, as will prevent the ground from becoming frozen, so that 
you can take up the roots with convenience and without injury when 
wanted. This method is preferable to taking them up and deposit- 
ing them in a cellar, in sand or earth, which is practised by some 
gardeners. 
Onions. 
The young crops of Welch onion, or Allium jistulomm, should be 
kept free from weeds; some may be thinned out for use in sallads, 
&c the remaining plants will stand the winter, even if their foliage 
decay, and produce a plentiful supply early in spring. 
Dried onions should be occasionally examined, and such as show 
a tendency to rot carefully picked out. 
Patience Dock. 
The Rumex patientia, or patience dock, being a plant that af- 
fords an early spring sallad for boiling, and being perennial in root 
is deserving of a place in the garden. The leaves are very large, 
long and succulent, and are produced in great abundance; the plant 
may be propagated by sowing the seed any time this month while 
the ground continues open, and the plants will rise freely in spring, 
or you may sow the seeds in March or early in April, but those 
