ii6 MY GARDEN. 



fully covered from the light, as this vegetal is disagreeable if not tho- 

 roughly blanched. Our later crops are obtained under sea-kale pots 

 by covering them with leaves and hot dung, beginning with about two 

 dozen pots at one end of the bed. As soon as the produce has been 

 cut the pots are removed row by row beyond the former, and the leaves 

 and hot dung turned over also to the new plants, by which a succes- 

 sion is secured. A sea-kale bed will last many years ; and as it is 

 one of our natural wild plants, it is perfectly hardy. I never saw it 

 in use on the Continent, and foreigners at my table have often 

 expressed great curiosity at the sight of this vegetal. 



We have trouble with Artichokes {Cynara Scolymus), as they are apt 

 to perish in winter in my garden. They should always be propagated 



by offsets, as when raised from seed many 



i^ indifferent varieties are produced. The Globe 



Artichoke (fig. 162) is the best variety to culti- 



_ vate. The flower is the part used for cookery, 



and should be employed young. In Italy they 



come to table all the spring, but probably 



/7^ they are brought from the extreme south. 



I have grown Cardoons [Cynara cardun- 



FiG. i62.-Ar.ichoke, J size. culus), but nevcr will again, as whether I have 



tasted them from my own garden, or whether I have obtained them 



abroad, they appear to be unworthy of cultivation. The blanched ribs 



of the leaves are eaten, but are infinitely inferior to stewed celery. 



THE ALLIACEOUS PLANTS. 



We grow four distinct crops of Onions {Allium Cepd). First of 

 all we have the underground onions (fig. 163), which are planted in 

 January, and yield their crop in June. A single tuber is planted, 

 which gives four or five new tubers. They are useful for ships going 

 abroad at that season of the year, but the tubers do not keep well, 

 and this crop may be dispensed with. The second crop is raised by 

 sowing seed from the middle to the end of August. The plants live 



wj, 



