THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Cardamine continued. 



the base, petioled, the lowest frequently three-lobed, or of three- 

 leaflets. Stems branching, weak or decumbent. Pennsylvania. 

 C. trlfolia (three-leaved).* fl., petals white, with a broad cune- 

 ated claw, and a broad, spreading, obovate limb ; scape naked. 

 March to May. 1. smoothish, ternate; segments sessile, rhprn- 

 boidal-rounrtish, toothed. Lower branches root-like, creeping. 

 h. 6in. Southern Europe, 1629. (B. M. 452.) 

 CARDIANDRA (from kardia, a heart, and aner, 

 andros, a man, anther). OBD. Saxifrages). A half-hardy 

 evergreen shrub. Flowers corymbose ; those at the margin 

 of the corymb barren and radiant. For cultivation, see 

 Hydrangea. 



C. alternlfolia (alternate-leaved), fl. white, lilac July I. alter, 

 nate, stalked, oblong-acute, serrated, and without stipules, h. 3ft 

 Japan, 1865. (S. Z. F. J. 65, 66.) 



CARDINAL FLOWER. See Lobelia cardinalis. 

 CARDOON (Cynara Cardunculus). This vegetable, 

 is much esteemed on the Continent, but is not cultivated 

 to any large extent in English gardens. A few are, how- 

 ever, generally grown, being especially in demand where 

 French cooks are employed. The ribs or stalks of the 

 leaves, if well blanched and properly cooked, form an 

 excellent dish in winter. 



Cultivation. The preparation of the trenches and 

 ground is somewhat similar to that adopted for celery; 



Pio. 366. CARDOON. 



but the plants grow much larger (see Fig. 366), and require 

 a space of about 2ft. between them, and 6ft. between the 

 rows. Some growers sow a few seeds in the rows at this 

 distance apart, thinning them out to one plant when 

 established. A much better plan is to sow the re- 

 quired number, in small pots, at the end of April, and 

 place them in a cold frame, where the seed will soon 

 germinate. Mice are very fond of the seed, consequently 



Cardoon continued. 



the frame must be kept close enough to prevent their 

 entry, or the whole will be destroyed. Select the 

 strongest plant in each pot, as they grow, and destroy 

 the others. Plant out before they become pot-bound, in 

 previously prepared trenches that have been well manured, 

 and water plentifully when necessary. Occasional forking 

 or hoeing between the plants, to encourage growth and 

 destroy weeds, will be all that is required, besides water- 

 ing, until September or October, when the plants will be 

 ready for earthing up. Before any soil is applied, the 

 stalks must be arranged upright, and closely bound up 

 with haybands to within a foot of the tops. The soil 

 must then be earthed up nearly as high as the haybands 

 reach, and be beaten hard -with the spade. It is very im- 

 portant that this operation should be performed on a dry 

 day, when the hearts are free from water, or they will 

 probably decay. The plants will be fit for use in about a 

 month, and may be taken up as required. Should Cardoons 

 be in great demand, an earlier or little later sowing may 

 be made for successional crops. If the plants have to be 

 kept for any length of time during winter, rain and frost 

 must be excluded by means of a covering of litter or 

 other protecting material ; or they may be dug up and 

 stored away in a cool, dry place, the haybands being 

 allowed to remain on. 



Sorts. The Spanish Cardoon with large solid ribs and 

 spineless leaves, is the one most cultivated ; it is liable to 

 run to seed, but not as much as the common sort. The 

 Tours Cardoon is much cultivated in France; but great 

 care is necessary in working amongst them, as the leaves 

 have very long sharp spines. There are one or two other 

 varieties, but the Spanish is most preferable, and is 

 generally grown. 



CARDUNCELLUS (the diminutive of Cardunculus, 

 the Cardoon, and that from carduus). ORD. Composites. 

 Pretty hardy herbaceous perennials, related to Carthamus. 

 Flowers all tubular ; pappus setaceous ; involucral bracts 

 many-seriate, imbricate ; receptacle flat, densely setose or 

 paleaceous. They succeed well in ordinary garden soil, and 

 are readily increased by divisions of the roots. Cardun- 

 cellus is rarely grown outside botanic collections. 

 C. mltissimns (least-spiny). Jl.-heads blue. May, June. I., 



cauline ones linear, pinnatifld, as long as the plant, h. 9in. 



France and Spam, 1734. 

 C. monspeliensium (Montpelier). Jl.-heads blue. June, July. I. 



unarmed ; radical ones toothed ; cauline ones pinnate. A. 9in. 



South-west Europe, 1776. 



CARDUUS (the Latin name used by Virgil, &c.). 

 Thistle. OBD. Composite. Hardy annuals, biennials, or 

 perennials. Receptacle bristly ; involucre tumid, imbri- 

 cated with spinous bracts ; pappus hairs rough, in many 

 series, united by a ring at the base, and deciduous ; corollas 

 all tubular, and generally spreading, so as to form a hemi- 

 spherical head. They are of easy culture in any common 

 soiL None, however, are worth growing in ordinary gar- 

 dens ; but for massing in woods, or in the wild garden, 

 some may be desirable. Hence, we mention the names 

 of a few of the more conspicuous species : acicularis, 

 Candollei, chrysacanthus, nutans, pycnocephalus (Blessed 

 Thistle), Ac. Two Composite frequently met with in 

 gardens, viz., Silybum Marianum and Cnicus benedictus, 

 are often mentioned in books and catalogues under the 

 generic name of Carduus. 



CAREX (from keiro, to cut ; the leaves of many species 

 have their margins minutely serrated, which cause them 

 to cut the hand if drawn rapidly along them). Sedge. 

 OBD. Cyperacece. A very large genus of perennial grass- 

 like herbaceous plants, of which upwards of sixty are 

 natives of this country. Inflorescence paniculate, irregu- 

 larly clustered, spicate or racemose. Stems usually leafy. 

 They are of the easiest possible culture in ordinary garden 

 soil. Propagated by seeds, or by divisions. By far the 

 greater number of this genus possess no horticultural 

 beauty whatever, and are only suitable for naturalising 



