652 PRACTICE OF GARDENING. Part III. 



necessary in working about it, to avoid personal injury ; a strong leather dress, and thick 

 gloves, are therefore worn. This prickly sort has not yet been introduced into Britain." 

 3930. Use. The tender stalks of the inner leaves of the cardoon, rendered white and 

 tender by earthing up, are used for stewing, and for soups and salads, in autumn and 

 winter. When the plants are large, the inner leaves and stalks are rendered by blanching 

 white, crisp, and tender, to the extent of two or three feet. The plant is not in much re- 

 quest, and is only cultivated in some particular family-gardens, and. a few market-grounds. 

 On the continent, it is in considerable repute, as indeed are many of salad and pot-herbs, 

 which are comparatively neglected in this country. 



3931. Propagation. Though a perennial, it often dies in the winter, and therefore requires to be raised 

 from seed almost every year ; and for a bed four feet wide by eight feet, two ounces are sufficient. Formerly 

 the plants were raised on hot-beds, and transplanted in May and June, but now the seed is generally sown 

 where the plants are to remain. 



3932. Soil. The best soil for the cardoon is one that is light, deep, and not over rich. 



3933. Times of sowing. The chief sowings are made in the spring ; for a small early crop, in the last 

 fortnight of March ; and for the main crop, in the first or second week of April. Further, for a late full 

 crop, you may sow towards the close of June. 



3934. Sowing for transplanting. Sow in a bed of common light earth, moderately thin ; and rake in the 

 seed evenly. When the plants have risen, thin them to three or four inches' distance, to give them room 

 to acquire stocky growth for transplanting. When they have been raised about eight weeks, transplant 

 them ; allotting an open compartment of well digged ground, and taking an opportunity of rain falling. 

 Having lifted the plants, trim any long straggling tops of the leaves and fibres of the roots. Plant them 

 either in the level ground, or in drills, or form a hollow patch for each plant ; in all cases at four feet and 

 a half distance. Thus you will have ample scope for their growth, and considerable space of ground to land 

 them up. Give water at planting, and occasionally till they take root. In their advancing growth, hoe 

 and loosen the ground about the plants, cutting down all weeds. 



3935. Sowing to remain. A crop may be raised by sowing where the crops are to remain, not to have any 

 check by removal. Sow in small hollow patches, at the distance specified above, two or three seeds in each. 

 Thin the plants to one strongest in each patch. 



3936. Landing up. When the plants are advanced in large growth, two or three feet high or more, in 

 August, September, and October, proceed to land them up for blanching. First tie the leaves of each plant 

 together with hay or straw bands ; then digging and breaking the ground, earth up round each plant a foot 

 or more high or two thirds of the stem. As the stems rise higher, tie and earth them up accordingly, 

 giving them a final earthing in October. 



3937. Watering in autumn. Regular waterings in the dry weather of August and September will pre- 

 vent the plants from seeding. 



3938. Taking the crop. When they are blanched a foot and a half, or two feet in length, or more, they 

 may be digged up, as wanted, in September, October, and throughout winter. 



3939. Occasional shelter. Protect the plants in severe frost with long litter, either as they stand, or 

 turned down on one side. 



3940. To save seed. Leave some full-grown plants in the spring, to shoot up in stalk. (Abercrombie.) 



Subsect. 5. Rampion. Campanula Rapunculus, L. (Eng. Bot. 283.) Pent. Monog. 

 L. and Campanulacece, B. P. Raiponce, Fr. ; Rapunzel, Ger. ; and Raperonzo, Ital. 



3941. The rampion is a biennial plant, a native of England, but rare. The root is 

 long, white, and spindle-shaped ; the lower leaves oval-lanceolate, and waved ; the flower- 

 stalk is about two feet high, and furnished with a panicle of blue flowers in July and 

 August. The whole plant abounds with a milky juice. 



3942. Use. The root is eaten raw like a radish, and has a pleasant nutty flavor ; it is 

 also sometimes cut into winter salads, and then the leaves as well as the root are used. 



3943. Culture. The seed should be sown in the latter end of May, on a shady border of rich earth, not 

 over stiff, the mould being made as firm as possible : it is better not to rake in the seed, which, being so 

 very fine, may, by that operation, be buried too deep. If the sowing is earlier than May, the plants will 

 sometimes run to flower in the autumn, and so become useless. Moderate waterings must be given as they 

 come up, through a fine rose of a watering-pot, and it is necessary that they be kept, at all times, tolerably 

 moist. When the plants are of sufficient size, they must be thinned out, to the distance of three or four 

 inches apart ; those drawn will bear transplanting well, if put into a border similar to the seed-bed, but 

 care must be taken to insert the roots straight into the earth, and not to press the mould too close ; the 

 roots which become forked are not so good as the straight ones. In November, the plants will be fit for 

 use, and will continue so until April. {Dickson, in Hort. Trans.) 



3944. To save seed. Leave or transplant some of the best plants in spring, and they will produce flowers 

 and abundance of seed in autumn. , 



Subsect. 6. Hop. Humulus Lupulus, L. (Eng. Bot. 427.) Dime. Pent. L. and 

 Urticece, J. Houblon, Fr. ; Hopfen, Ger. ; and Lupolo, Ital. 

 3945. The hop is a perennial plant, a native of Britain, and well known as being 

 cultivated for its flowers, which are used in preserving beer. It rises with a rough shoot, 

 and rough tripartite leaves, the former climbing round whatever comes in its way to a 

 considerable height, and producing flowers of a peculiar odor in July. 

 3946. Use in cookery. The young shoots, when they have risen three or four inches 

 from the root, were formerly gathered and boiled like asparagus, to which they are very 

 little inferior ; these shoots are still occasionally to be found in the market, under the name 

 of hop-tops. A pillow filled with hop-flowers will induce sleep, unattended with the bad 

 effects of soporifics which require to be taken internally. 



3947. Culture. The hop is propagated by dividing the roots in autumn or spring. It requires a deep 

 rich soil, which should be frequently stirred and kept qu ; te free of weeds, and the plantation should be 

 renewed every seven or ten years according to circumstances. In field-culture, it is planted in hills or in 

 groups of three or four plants, at six or eight feet centre from centre ; but in growing a few for hop-tops, 

 they may be planted in single rows at three feet distance, and one foot asunder in the row. 



