Oct.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 549 
place a frame and glasses over the bed, and in hard frost, fill 
the inside immediately over the plants with dry straw, thus they 
will be protected from wet and frost and will whiten effectually 
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 19; this done, put 
on the glasses, and observe to raise them behind every day to admit 
air, and prevent the young rising shoots from 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 theni 
off the ground; clear the beds carefully from weeds, eradicating 
them effectually and drawing them into the alleys. 
Asparagus beds in general, will be greatly benefited 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 tram- 
pled down, which would in some measure, prevent the frost from 
entering 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 
wdees,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. 
