150 ASP AR AGIN OTJS PLANTS. 



Giant Purple- Sprout white ; the top, as it breaks ground, 

 DUTCH. RED-TOP, purple ; size very large, sometimes measuring 

 an inch and three fourths in diameter, but greatly affected by 

 soil and cultivation. 



A hundred sprouts of this variety have been produced, 

 which weighed twenty-five pounds. 



Green-Top. This variety, when grown under the same con- 

 ditions as the Giant Purple-top, is generally smaller or more 

 slender. The top of the sprout and the scales on the sides 

 are often slightly tinged with purple. The plant, when full 

 grown, is perceptibly more green than that of the Giant 

 Purple-top. From most nursery-beds plants of both varie- 

 ties will probably be obtained, with every intervening grade 

 of size and color. 



CARDOON. 



Chardon. Chardoon. Cynara cardunculus. 



In its general character and appearance the Cardoon 

 resembles the Artichoke. Its full size is not attained until 

 the second year, when it is " truly a gigantic herbaceous 

 plant," of five or six feet in height. The flowers, which are 

 smaller than those of the Artichoke, are produced in July 

 and August of the second year, and are composed of numer- 

 ous small blue florets, enclosed by somewhat fleshy, pointed 

 scales. The seeds are oblong, a little flattened, of a grayish 

 or grayish-green color, spotted and streaked with deep brown ; 

 and, when perfectly grown, are similar in size and form to 

 those of the apple. About six hundred are contained in an 

 ounce ; and they retain their vitality seven years. 



Soil, Propagation, and Culture. The best soil for the 

 Cardoon is a light and deep but not over-rich loam. It is 



