CABBAGES 97 



selves or between rows of Lettuces that are to be 

 cut in May. After the Lettuces are taken off, the soil 

 is hoed well, and if inclined to be dry, a good soaking 

 of water is given occasionally. These Cabbages are 

 ready by the middle of June. 



CARDOONS 



The Cardoon (Cynara Cardunculus) is a perennial 

 composite, native of Southern Europe. It grows from 

 4 to 6 ft. high or more, and has large pinnate leaves, 

 grey-green on the upper surface and almost white 

 beneath. In many varieties there is a yellow or brown 

 spine, often over \ in. long, in the angle of each 

 division of the leaves. The fleshy leaf-stalks, when 

 blanched, form the eatable portion of the plant, as 

 well as the thick, fleshy main roots. 



In many French gardens the Cardoon is an important 

 crop. There are several varieties grown, such as the 

 " Prickly Tours," " Ivory-white," " Spanish," and 

 " Artichoke-leaved " or " Puvis," etc. Of these the 

 first-named" Prickly Tours "is most highly appre- 

 ciated by the market-gardeners of Tours and Paris, 

 notwithstanding the fact that it is more spiny than 

 any other kind. It is, however, also the hardiest and 

 keeps better than the others, although all are susceptible 

 to frost. 



Cardoons are always raised from seeds, never from 

 suckers. These are usually sown out-of-doors in May, 

 in holes or pockets filled with rich gritty mould three 

 or four seeds being placed in each pocket. Or seeds 

 may be sown in the latter half of April on a hot-bed 

 with a temperature of 65 to 70 Fahr. The seedlings 



7 



