576 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [Dec. 
eient covering of mats, &c. but care must be taken not to cover the 
seeds deeper with earth, than what is barely sufficient to hide 
them. 
Keep the glasses constantly over them, and admit air to the plants 
every day when the weather is mild, by raising the lights a little 
behind, otherwise they will be apt to become mouldy and decay. 
It is almost unnecessary to say that the glasses must be kept well 
covered every night, and even in the day time during extremely 
severe weather. 
Mushrooms. 
Particular care must now be taken to preserve the mushroom 
beds from frost or wet, either of which would destroy the spawn, 
and render the beds unproductive. They must consequently be 
covered with a sufficient depth of dry straw, and over this mats: 
after heavy rains or snow they should be examined, and if you find 
the covering next the earth of the beds wet, take it totally away and 
immediately replace it with dry straw. Where the necessary and 
proper care is taken, there will be a constant supply of mushrooms 
for the table, even in the most rigorous seasons. Observe the gene- 
ral directions given in page 515, &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 tem- 
perature of heat. For the method of making and managing them, 
see page 123, &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 
necessary; if you have any seeds remaining in their pods or cap- 
sules, beat or rub out and clean them, so as to be ready for sow- 
ing when wanted; prepare all tools which may be necessary in 
spring, that there may be no delay when the season is favourable 
for commencing your early cropping. 
Provide from the woods, &c. pea-sticks, and bean-poles, of every 
size; dress and point them, that they may be in complete rea- 
diness 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. 
