66 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



checked. Some little skill in blanching is required, and 

 when properly blanched the plant should be cut at 

 once, as it soon rots. An early sowing of Cardoon may 

 be made in pots under glass, but the general practice is 

 to make but a single sowing out of doors. Cardoon is 

 not offered by all American seedsmen ; varieties are 

 prickly and spineless. No diseases or pests are reported. 



Soil should be moist, rich, and deep. A good celery 

 soil will suit Cardoon. Work compost or well-rotted ma- 

 nure into the hill if possible, especially on sandy soil. 



Distances. Rows four feet apart, or hills three by 

 three feet. 



Depth. One-half to one inch. 



Sow under glass in April, in four-inch pots, five to 

 six seeds to the pot; thin to one plant and harden off 

 before setting out. Sow in the open ground when 

 frosts are past, late in May. Pots over the hills will 

 assist the germination. Sow very thinly in the rows, 

 three to five seeds in the hills. 



Thin when well up, to two feet or more in the rows, 

 one plant in the hills. 



Set out when frosts are past. 



Sowing in seed-beds may be practiced with Cardoon, 

 if the transplanting is carefully done and the plants not 

 checked. Rows one foot apart. Thin plants to four 

 inches. 



Transplant from seed-bed with care, taking earth 

 with each plant, when about four inches high. 



