CARDOON 139 



of moisture ; indeed, Mr. Wythes writes : " The best 

 Cardoons I ever grew were the result of flooding the 

 trenches with liquid manure weekly ". If the roots 

 suffer from drought the plants frequently run to seed, 

 and are worthless. In gardens where labour is none 

 too plentiful, and water scarce, it is a mistake to grow 

 Cardoons. Where Cardoons are so much esteemed 

 that a supply is desired in winter, then sow seed in 

 June. The plants will not be large, but the flavour 

 will be excellent. It may also be mentioned that there 

 is no need to have enormous growths ; growths of five 

 feet or more are quite needless. Cultural details are 

 simple once the planting is accomplished. Give plenty 

 of manure during growth, and keep the soil about 

 them free from weeds. 



There are several varieties, although only a few 

 are enumerated in our home catalogues, but on the 

 Continent about a dozen are mentioned. Whatever 

 the variety, the aim of the cultivator must be to get 

 solid stem growth which is the portion cooked, and 

 varieties differ in this important point. There is the 

 large Spanish, which is less spineless than some others, 

 but runs badly to seed. The large Solid Tours is 

 better ; it comes from Tours, and is an excellent 

 Cardoon, so also is the Marseilles, and the Puvis, a 

 variety much esteemed in France. 



As the plant attains a good size, draw the leaves 

 together when they are quite dry, and use haybands to 

 blanch the stems. The leaves must be brought into an 

 upright position, the bands being placed at the base, 



