152 ASPARAGINOUS PLANTS. 



If there is no heavy frost the leaves will blanch quickly and 

 finely without further pains ; but, if frosty weather occurs, it 

 will be necessary to earth up about the plants, as is practised 

 with celery ; but care should be taken not to raise the earth 

 higher than the hay-bands. 



One method of blanching is simply to tie the leaves 

 together with matting, and then to earth up the plants from 

 time to time like celery ; beginning early in September, and 

 adding gradually every week until they are sufficiently 

 covered. Those, however, blanched by the banding process, 

 are superior, both in respect to color and in the greater length 

 of the parts blanched. 



Another practice is to earth up a little about the base of 

 the plant, tie the leaves together with thread or matting, and 

 then envelop the whole quite to the top with a quantity of 

 long, clean wheat or rye straw, placed up and down the 

 plant, and tied together with small cord or strong matting. 

 The leaves will thus blanch without being earthed up, and 

 speedily become white. This process is a good one, is eco- 

 nomical, and presents a neat appearance. 



In about three weeks after being tied up the cardoons will 

 be fit for use. 



Harvesting. When the stems and midribs of the leaves 

 are thoroughly blanched they arc ready for use. Until the 

 occurrence of severe weather the table may be supplied 

 directly from the garden ; but, before the closing up of the 

 ground, " the plant should be taken up, roots and leaves 

 entire, and removed to the cellar, where they should be 

 packed in sand, laying the plants down in rows, and packing 

 the sand around them, one course over another, till finished. 

 In this way they not only keep well, but become more per- 

 fectly blanched." 



To raise Seed. Allow two or three plants to remain 



