C Y N 



C Y N 



Tlic second species has tliick, fleshy, flLry 

 roots, crowned by a eonsiderahle cluster of large, 

 creel, deeplv-piiiiiatilid leaves, i'oiir or fnv I'eet 

 high, haviiiij all the lobes pinnaiitid; and thick 

 prickly ibotslalks; and amidst them, upright 

 tall stems, terniin:ited by scaly, small heads, 

 furnishing flowers and seed, without any eatable 

 substance, as in the Artichoke. It is oi'ten bitii- 

 uial in this climate. 



Culture. — These plants arc increased wiiliout 

 much diilii ulty, it" proper care be taken to pre- 

 serve them from the I'rosts iu winter. 



Culture In the Artichoke Kind. — These sorts of 

 plants succeed best in a soil of the light deep 

 loamy kind, well enriched by siahlc-dungorsome 

 other manure. Where the soil is stift' and wet 

 they are liable to be destroyed in the winters.ason. 



Their prtipaaalion is eiVecled bv ]ilanting the 

 ofF-stts, or suckeis produced from the old stools 

 or roots, in the early spring montbs, as about the 

 latter end of March, in an open situation, in 

 rows lour or five feet apart, and the same di- 

 stances in the rows. The ground should be 

 previously prepared by trenchmg in the dung to 

 a aood spade's depth. 



In planting the off-sets, after being separated 

 from the old plants, they should be trimmed in their 

 leaves and other parts, andbe then put inby means 

 of a line and dibble to the depth of three or four 

 inches. Some plant two or three plants in one 

 place, but others only one. The latter is jiro- 

 bably the better method, as the plants spread 

 very much. Whichever mode is practised, the 

 earth should be well closed about the sets, and 

 a good watering immediately <iiven, especially 

 if the weather be dry ; repeating it as there may 

 be occasion. 



After this they only require to be kept free 

 from weeds during the summer, which is best 



ftcrformed by hoeing between the rows with a 

 arge sharp hoe; and to be protected from frost 

 in the winter. 



When large heads are wanted, all the small 

 lateral ones should be renioved as soon as they 

 arc formed to any size. In some situations the 

 small lateral crooked heads are, however, held 

 in much esteem, consequently must not be rub- 

 bed off. The maturity of the heads of the Arti- 

 choke is shown by the plates or scales separating 

 from each otlier considerably. 



In cutting the heads, si.\ inches of the stem 

 should be preserved to them, and in many cases, 

 when for market, a foot ormore. And care should 

 be taken, that as the heads are cut, the stalks be 

 broken dow n to the bottom and removed, in or- 

 der to promote the growth of new suckers. 



In order to protect the plants during the win- 

 ter from being injured by frost, it is the practice 



of some to c.irth or mould up the rows of the 

 plants, so as to cover their crowns, forming the 

 earth into a ridge. This is usually done about the 

 hitter end of November or beginning of the fol- 

 lowing month, the lower leaves being cut and 

 removed before the work is attempted. The au- 

 thor of the Scotch Forcing Gardener, instead of 

 ridging up the |)ljnts, advises, that they should 

 be carefully covered with stable-dung or other 

 litter in the beginning of v. inter, whii-n he con- 

 siders as better tlian digging trendies and mould- 

 ing up with the earih fium them, as the roots 

 iu that way are, he supposes, doubly exposed. 

 Many instances have occurred where the plants 

 managed in that method have been destroyed, 

 w hilc those well covered by litter have not sus- 

 tained the least injury. 



About the middle of March or beginning of 

 the following month, when the plants have be- 

 gun to shoot, the ridges should be levelled down, 

 removing all the unnecessary shoots, only leav- 

 ing one or two on each plant. This work should 

 be performed when the weather is dry, and the 

 mould be well cleared and removed from the 

 crowns of the plants. 



Where they have been covered with litter, the 

 coarse parts should be removed about the same 

 time, and the more reduced and rotten parts 

 dug in, previously removing the shoots as in the 

 former case, to prevent their being too much 

 crowded, and producing small heads. 



This culture must be repealed every vqzx for 

 the old roots or stools, which should not be 

 sufTered to continue more than seven or eight 

 years in the same situation, as they then begin 

 to produce heads that are smaller in size. 



Where successions of this sort of crop arc 

 wanted, a few of the best off-sets should bo 

 planted every year as soon as possible after be- 

 ing taken off, in the manner that has been di- 

 rected above. This practice not only keeps up 

 the stock of plants, but continues the season 

 of having the produce, as the young plants af- 

 ford tbeir heads much later than the old ones. 



When the off-sets are to be conveyed to a lii- 

 stanee, they should be carefully packed, eight or 

 ten together, when dry, and bound round with 

 a hay-band, the whole being then placed in a 

 hamper or mat. In this case some advise moist- 

 ening the roots before planting them out. 



The globular-headed sort is tlie larger and more 

 fleshy, but the green conical -headed the more 

 hardy. 



Culture in the Cardonn Kind. — This is accom- 

 plished, by sowing the seed in the latter end of 

 April or beginninsr of May, or later, in the 

 places where the plants are to remain. It is 

 best done bv forming trenches at the distance of 



