GARDEN SPECIALTIES 221 



Globe artichoke and the Oval Brittany arti- 

 choke in 1908; subsequently using also the Paris 

 artichoke, a large green variety, and of the 

 so-called Perpetual artichoke. 



The plants when grown from seed vary 

 markedly in size and shape of the leaf as well 

 as in size, shape, and quality of the blossom 

 buds. Some of the plants are thorny. The 

 flowers, if allowed to come to maturity, differ 

 little in color, though greatly in size. Some 

 of the newest flower receptacles when fully 

 matured open out to a breadth of twelve inches 

 and more. 



But the flower bud is not permitted to mature 

 to the point of opening when the artichoke is to 

 be used as food. If it reaches the stage when the 

 blue flowerets begin to be visible, the head is alto- 

 gether too old for eating. The object of culti- 

 vating new varieties is not necessarily to increase 

 the number of the flowers themselves, but in- 

 creasing the size and the quality of the scalelike 

 bud leaves and the receptacle. 



My work has been carried out along the usual 

 lines of crossing and selection, and the results 

 have been very satisfactory. Selection has also 

 taken into consideration, as a matter of course, 

 the succulence and especially the flavor of the 

 edible portion. 



