8 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



Copper-coloured Artichoke of Brittany.— A rather low- 

 growing plant ; heads round, large, violet at first, but red-copper 

 colour as they advance in growth ; scales pointed. 



Perpetual Artichoke. — A medium-sized plant not exceeding 



27 or 28 in. in height, 

 with silvery gray leaves 

 and red stems, deepening 

 in colour at the base. 

 The young heads are 

 tinged with purple, which 

 turns into purple-gray as 

 their size increases. The 

 scales are indented, spine- 

 less, and very fleshy. It 

 is much grown on the 

 French Riviera for the 

 sake of the numerous 

 small heads it produces 

 as early as January, which 

 are usually eaten raw 

 with oil and vinegar, as 

 a delicate hors-d'ceuvre 

 for which there is always 

 a great demand. For 

 this reason the plants are 

 abundantly watered from 

 the middle of August 

 onward. When fully 

 grown the heads may be 

 cooked and eaten in the 

 usual way. 



Early Purple Globe 

 Artichoke, — A rather 

 dwarf plant, not more 

 than 28 in. in height ; 

 leaves grayish green, large 

 but much laciniated ; the heads are round, green when young, 

 tinged with dark purple when full grown ; scales long, pointed, 

 lightly spiny. Although this variety came first from, the south of 

 France, it does well all over France, owing to its earliness. Like 

 the preceding, it is best for use when young. It has superseded 

 the Purple Provence Ai^ticJioke^ and, like it, is apt to take cold, 

 and should not be uncovered tpo early in the spring. 



Gray Artichoke. — A variety with elongated, rather thin and 

 loose heads, widening out at the top. It is specially cultivated in 

 the neighbourhood of Perpignan, is a very early kind, and flowers 



Perpetual Artichoke. 



