1142 



PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS lettuce. 



exclude light. In about 6 weeks' time the 

 growths will be sufficiently blanched for 

 use, and are by some preferred to blanched 

 Cardoons. 



CARDOON (Cynaka Caedunculds). 

 The Cardoon belongs to the same genus 

 as the G-lobe Artichoke and is considered 

 by some to be a form of the same species. 

 It is a perennial plant, native of the 

 Mediterranean region, and in general 

 appearance resembles the Globe Artichoke. 

 Its stems are channelled and whitish, and 

 the leaves are large and pinnately divided, 

 grayish-green above, white beneath, often 

 furnished with brown or yellow spines 

 j-5 in. long at the angle of each division. 

 Cardoons are cultivated for the very 

 fleshy leaf stalks or ribs, which when 

 blanched and properly cooked are much 

 appreciated by many. 



Culture and Propagation. — Cardoons 

 are always raised from seeds. These are 

 sown about the middle to the end of 

 April in northern parts of the kingdom, 

 and a month or so later in the southern 

 parts, in trenches about 1 ft. deep, 18 in. 

 wide, and about 4 feet apart, made as 

 in the case of Celery (see p. 1130). About 

 3 seeds are sown together in a patch of 

 soil which has been broken up at the 

 bottom of the trench and well manured. 

 Each patch of seeds should be about a 

 yard apart, although some growers allow 

 only half this distance. The seeds are 

 covered with about an inch of soil, and 

 when the seedlings are well above the soil, 

 say 3 or 4 inches, the two weakest plants 

 in each patch may be pulled up, leaving 

 the strongest to grow. 



When somewhat earlier crops of 

 Cardoons are required it is necessary to 

 sow seeds in gentle heat in a hotbed or 

 warm greenhouse in March. About 4 or 

 5 seeds may be sown in a 4-5 in. pot, and 

 when the seedlings are well above the 

 soil, all except the strongest should be 

 thimied out. By keeping the _ selected 

 plants close to the glass to obtain plenty 

 of light, they become strong and sturdy, 

 and will be fit for planting out at the end 

 of May or early in June. Plenty of air 

 should always be given when under glass, 

 and also gradually cooler quarters as 

 planting-out time approaches. Watermg 

 should also be attended to, so that the 

 plants shall be in no way checked in 

 their growth. 



During the summer months the plants 



should be liberally ' watered according to- 

 the weather, and the ground should be 

 kept clean and free from weeds. A 

 dusting with lime and soot when the seeds 

 ai-e sown and when the young plants- 

 appear will check any insect attacks. 

 Crops of Lettuce &c. may be grown on 

 the ground between the trenches during 

 the summer months, up to the end of 

 September. 



Blanching and Tying. — About this 

 time (September and October) the plants 

 will be full grown, and quite ready for 

 blanching. The stems are tied together 

 and wrapped round with straw or hay 

 when the weather is fine and dry. The 

 soil may then be brought up on each side 

 as with Celery, leaving just the tops of 

 the leaves appearing In three or four 

 weeks or a little more the stalks will be 

 properly blanched and fit for use. 



As the plants are tender, they must 

 be protected with a covering of htter, 

 fern, dry leaves &c. on the approach of 

 frost. 



Vaeibties. — The Idnd called Spanish 

 Cardoon without spines is the one chiefly 

 grown in this country, but there are 

 several others. 



LETTUCE (Lactuca sativa). — This 

 well-known and much-esteemed Salad 

 plant belongs to the Composite order (see 

 p. 492). It is a native of India or Central 

 Asia, and has been in cultivation about 

 350 years, and there are naturally a good 

 many varieties. 



Soil. — Any good garden soil, well 

 manured and tilled, and not too heavy in 

 texture, will suit Lettuce. A rich deep- 

 sandy loam, however, produces the finest 

 plants. 



Time of sowing. — According to the 

 variety Ijettuce seeds may be sown at 

 intervals from February to the end of July 

 or August, so as to obtain a succession 

 almost the whole year round. The early 

 sowings are best made in cold frames or 

 old hotbeds. The seed should be sown 

 very thinly either broadcast or in di'ills, 

 and lightly covered with fine soil, after- 

 wards gently patting it down with a 

 spade or piece of flat board. 



It is an excellent and time-saving 

 plan to sow Lettuce with Radishes, either 

 in frames or the open border according to 

 the season, as already mentioned under 

 Radishes at p. 1121. As the latter will 

 be drawn first, the young Lettuces will be 



