CHAP. T. CULINARY VEGETABLE!?. 101 



ten or twelve days after sown. The sowing should be made in 

 gumlahs under shelter from the rain, but exposed as much as 

 possible to the light, otherwise the young seedlings are very 

 apt to damp off. 



The plants bear a long tap-root, which is liable to become 

 broken if they are allowed to grow large before being trans- 

 planted. They are best planted out when about a hand high 

 at a distance of three feet apart at least. Like all other vege- 

 tables, they thrive best in a rich soil. I have heard elephant's 

 dung recommended as a manure, and have known instances 

 where it has been liberally applied, but as far as I could learn 

 with no marked advantage. Sea- weed is the manure which, 

 when obtainable, is said to suit them best, and in default of that 

 any manure in which salt is an ingredient. The plants require 

 to be grown in open unshaded ground, which- it is desirable should 

 be changed each season. They come into bearing towards the 

 end of February. Some few will survive through the Hot and 

 Kain seasons, at the close of which they should be dressed with 

 a liberal supply of manure. These will be productive con- 

 siderably earlier than those raised fresh from seed. Plants, 

 however, raised fresh from seed produce far superior heads. 



In the Upper Provinces plants raised from American or Euro- 

 pean seed prove abundantly productive of fine large heads during 

 the months of March, April, and May. But in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Calcutta only what is called acclimated seed can be 

 used with any prospect of success, as it is very rare indeed that 

 a single head can be obtained from plants raised from imported 

 seed. Nor have I seen any advantage in preserving plants, that 

 have proved unproductive the season they were raised, until the 

 succeeding one, for I have found them continue as barren then 

 as they were at the first. Continual shifting of the plants, when 

 young, has been recommended in order to promote fruitfulness. 

 I have tried this plan, but with no success. 



Those who have once become possessed of acclimated seed 

 can of course secure a succession of it from year to year by 

 reserving a few of the earliest-formed heads for ripening. 



CHARD. A name given to the young offsets of the Arti- 

 choke when submitted to the same mode of cultivation as the 

 Cardoon. 



