558 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [Nor. 
er eight inches of the tops of the plants, and on the approach of 
hard frost, additionally earthed to the very extremities of their 
leaves; then lay a covering of dry sandy earth on the top of each 
bed, the whole length, so as to give it a rounding; on this, place a 
coat of dry straw, drawn and laid on advantageously to cast off the 
wet, and of a sufficient thickness to effectually resist the frost; after 
which cut a trench round the bed to carry off and prevent any lodge- 
ment of water. Here you can have access to your celery, and it will 
continue in a high state of preservation during the whole winter and 
early spring months. 
Endive may be preserved in a frame, or cellar, as directed for 
celery, or as recommended in page 518. 
Cardoons may be preserved either in sand in a cellar, or by bank- 
ing up a sufficiency of earth to them where they grow, and covering 
the tops, Sec. with straw or long litter. 
N. B. All the above work must be performed in dry weather, and 
when the plants are perfectly free from wet, otherwise they will be 
very subject to rot. 
Sowing Rhubarb, Sea-kale and other Seeds. 
You should now sow the seeds of rhubarb, sea-kale, skirrets, ale- 
sanders, dill, and any other kinds of seed that do not vegetate freely 
if kept out of the ground till spring; sow them as directed in March, 
and be not under the least apprehension of the frost doing them any 
injury. 
Mushrooms. 
The mushroom beds must be carefully protected from wet and 
frost, as directed in page 515, Sec. 
Winter -dressing of Artichokes. 
The winter dressing of artichokes is an important operation, and 
on it depends much of their future success. This should not be 
given them as long as the weather continues mild, that they may 
have all the advantage possible of growth, and be gradually inured 
to the present increasing cold; but it should not be deferred till 
the setting in of hard frost, lest the entire work be prevented 
thereby. 
In the first place, cut all the large leaves close to the ground, 
leaving but the small ones which rise from the hearts of the plants; 
after this, line and mark out, a trench in the middle between each 
row, from fourteen to sixteen inches wide, presuming that the 
rows are five feet apart, as directed under the article planting- arti- 
chokes) in page 203. Then lightly dig the surface of the beds from 
trench to trench, burying the weeds, and as you proceed, gather 
the earth round the crowns of the plants to the height of about six 
inches, placing it in gently, between the young rising leaves with- 
out burying them entirely under it; this done dig the trenches one 
