214 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [MARCH 



to rise at the distance of six inches, allowing for imperfect seeds and 

 accidents, cover them as above, and in the spring following trans- 

 plant them as before directed. 



CARDOONS. 



The cynara cardunculus, or cardoon artichoke, has been a long 

 time used for culinary purposes, such as for salads, soups, stewing, 

 &c. 



The stalks of the leaves being thick, fleshy, and crisp, are the 

 eatable parts, being first blanched by landing them up like celery, to 

 two or three feet high, to render them white, tender, and of an 

 agreeable flavor, which otherwise would be rank and bitter; they 

 are in perfection in autumn and winter. 



Sow the seeds towards the latter end of this month or beginning 

 of next, broadcast, in a bed of rich earth, and cover them about 

 three-quarters of an inch deep; when the plants are three inches 

 high thin them to four or five inches distant, that they may not be 

 drawn up weak; keep them free from weeds, and towards the latter 

 end of May or beginning of June they will be fit to plant where they 

 are intended to remain for perfection. For their further treatment 

 see May, &c. 



Or, as these plants are rather impatient of transplanting, you may 

 sow the seeds at the distances directed in May for the plants, a few 

 seeds in each spot, and as they advance thin them, leaving only the 

 best plant in each of those squares. 



ALEXANDERS, OR ALESANDERS. 



The Smyrnium olusatrum, or common Alexanders, are used for 

 culinary purposes as the cardoons, and blanched in like manner. The 

 whole plant is of a strong, warm, and aromatic nature, and the leaves 

 and seed are sometimes used for medicine. 



The seed of this plant should be sown in autumn soon after it is 

 ripe, for if kept out of the ground till spring, few of them will come 

 up till that time twelve months; however, when you sow the seed in 

 spring, let it be done as early as possible, and sown pretty thick in 

 drills eighteen inches asunder, covering the seeds near an inch deep ; 

 when the plants are up thin them to six or eight inches distant in the 

 rows, and as they advance in growth draw the earth up to their stems 

 as you do to celery, in order to blanch and whiten them, that they 

 should be crisp and tender for autumn and winter use; in the spring 

 following, such as remain will shoot out again vigorously, let the 

 earth then be hoed up close to each plant, and in three or four weeks 

 they will be blanched and in a fine condition for use. 



When these plants are desired I would recommend them to be 

 sown where they are to remain, in any of the autumn months ; in 

 that case they will rise freely in spring, and become fine vigorous 

 plants. 



