KITCHEN GARDEN. 153 



These varieties are numerous, and take their dis- 

 tinctive names from their colour : as the green, the 

 red, the violet, and the white. The first of these 

 (the green) is the best, as well on account of its 

 larger size, as its better flavour and greater ability 

 to resist cold and wet weather; the constant and 

 most formidable enemy of the whole family. 



This plant is propagated in two ways, by seed and 

 by suckers ; by the former when it is desired to ob- 

 tain new races, and by the latter when we wish to 

 continue old ones. The first method is occasionally 

 practised by amateurs, and is that by which the 

 plant may be soonest naturalized, and made to attain 

 its highest perfection. The second is preferred by 

 practical men seeking immediate profit, and risking 

 as little as possible on experiments.* 



If the first method be adopted, select sound and 

 fresh seeds, and, in the month of February, sow 

 them in pots filled with rich and mellow earth, and 

 plunged in a hotbed. Each pot may receive three 

 seeds. The young plants will soon show them- 

 selves, and, by watering and ventilating them at 

 proper times and in a moderate degree, will be fit 

 for transplanting in April. If the second method be 

 preferred, after having carefully uncovered and 

 cleaned the stems of the mother plants, take from 

 them, with the hand, as many sprouts or suckers 

 as may be wanted, remembering that those near- 

 est the heart are the best ; and taking care also to 

 crop the sprouts close to the stem, and always be- 

 low what gardeners call the nut, and without chafing 

 or otherwise injuring the fibres which surround this, 

 and which are destined to become the roots of the 

 future artichoke. 



Such are the two modes of obtaining plants, to 



in relation to bulk and to shape. The later, and, we think, the 

 better opinion is, that this difference is the effect only of culture. 

 * The average loss of plants from the seed-bed is one half, 

 that from suckers only one tenth. Cours d'Ag. 



