CARDOON 67 



Culture. Preserve the soil moisture by cultivation; 

 water in a drought. 



Fertilize with a general fertilizer, rich in nitrogen, 

 under the seeds in the row or hill; nitrate of soda or 

 liquid manure, after the plants are well up, in small 

 quantities every ten days. 



Blanching. When the large outer leaves are eighteen 

 inches or more tall, usually late in the season, gather 

 the whole plant together when dry, and tie the leaves 

 at the tip. Wrap with matting or heavy paper, pack 

 straw or hay around them, and pack earth firmly over 

 the whole, leaving the tips of the leaves still exposed. 

 The plant should be blanched in two weeks or more, 

 and when white and tender should be cut at once, before 

 it rots. The root may also be pulled and eaten. 

 Cardoon should not be allowed to grow too rank and 

 tall, as thorough blanching is difficult. Blanching on a 

 small scale may be done by means of drain -pipes set 

 over the plants after tying. 



The row culture has the advantage over hill culture 

 that the plants may be ridged up like celery, with less 

 labor, and will stand frost better. Cardoon may be 

 taken up and blanched in trenches, or indoors, if it 

 comes late to blanching size. 



Winter protection for roots is possible in very 

 equable and mild sections of the country. It is better, 

 however, to eat the thicker parts of the roots, and raise 

 the plants again from seed. 



