THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



SCOLYMUS (Scolymus Hispanicus), called Golden 

 Thistle or Spanish Oyster Plant, is grown and used like 

 Salsify, though of milder flavor. Its disadvantage is 



that the leaves are prickly; 

 as an offset the roots are 

 much larger, the seeds easier 

 to sow, and from the same 

 space a much larger crop can 

 be raised than of Salsify. Its 

 roots may be left in the 

 ground over winter. The 

 leaves of the plants are some- 

 times blanched and eaten. 



Soil should be cool, rich, 

 deep, in fine tilth, and not 

 recently manured. 



Distances. Rows eigh- 

 teen inches apart or more. 



Depth. One-half to one 

 inch. 



Sow when the ground is 

 fit. Only one crop is usual, 

 as the plant requires the full 



Fig. 116. Root of Scolymus. 



season. 



Thin to six inches apart in the rows. 

 Culture. Preserve the surface mulch, and weed. 

 Dig in fall or spring. 

 Blanch the tops like Cardoon, which see. 



