164 
MONTHLY CALENDAR. 
for forcing them in the ordinary way, may dig a few grass 
sods or turfs, before it freezes hard, and stow them away out 
of the reach of frost, through the winter. These being 
placed on the top of a hot-bed, in March, or early in April, 
with the grass downward, and Cucumber or Melon seed 
planted in the earthy part thereof, early plants may be pro- 
duced, which can be removed with the turfs without dis- 
turbing their growth, and cultivated either on the ridge sys- 
tem, as recommended in page 132, or in the open ground, 
provided they can be kept growing in frames until settled 
warm weather. This is also an excellent plan in early 
forcing, as it saves trouble as well as risk in transplanting 
seedling plants into the fruiting beds. 
If not done last month, dress your Artichoke beds, and 
cover them as recommended in page 32. Defend Mushroom 
beds with dry straw, or long stable litter, and cover such as 
may be exposed, with mats, as security against cold. In all 
moderate weather during the winter, give air to Cabbage, 
Cauliflower, Lettuce, and such other plants as may be in 
frames, being careful to cover them every night with mats, 
ooards, litter, &c., as necessity may require. 
As the year is drawing to a close, I would solicit the gar- 
dener to review the results of his practice throughout the 
past season, that he may be able to judge how to act for the 
future. 
In sketching a plan of his garden for the next year, he 
ought to make provision for a full supply of such vegetables as 
are best calculated to sell, and yield a fair profit ; with this 
object in view, I would suggest that he take a retrospective 
view of his previous management, and also of the directions 
given in the preceding chapter relative to the preparation of 
the soil, by ploughing, trenching, pulverizing, manuring, &c., 
as circumstances may require ; bearing in mind, that although 
clayey soils may be benefited by fall ridging, light sandy 
ground should lay flat through the winter. 
