12 On the Varieties of Cardoon, fyc. 



and usually rather more spiny ; it is not however always 

 very readily distinguished from the Common Cardoon. 



3. Cardoon of Tours. 

 Cardon de Tours. 



Cordon de Tours epineuoc a cotes tres pleines. 

 Cardon piquante. 



The leaves of this kind are very hoary on the upper 

 surface, the segments are broad, acuminate, and terminating 

 with a stiff spine ; the spines grow from three to five in 

 clusters at the base of the leaflets, they are very strong and 

 of a yellowish colour. This plant does not grow so tall as 

 the two preceding ; its ribs are large and solid. 



4. Red Cardoon. 

 Cardon d cotes rouges. 



The leaves of this kind are green, without any hoariness, 

 long and narrow. The segments of the leaflets are also 

 much narrower and more acuminate, than in either of the 

 others. The ribs are large, and tinged with a deep pink, but 

 are not solid. The whole plant is destitute of spines. It is 

 less hardy than either of the other varieties. M. Vilmorin 

 received this from M. Delacour Gouffe, Director of the 

 Botanic Garden at Marseilles. 



There does not appear to be any real difference as to flavour 

 when dressed in the above described plants ; the Spanish Car- 

 doon as grown with us seems to be the best, inasmuch as the 

 ribs are usually larger and more solid than those of the other 

 kinds. The French, as before stated, prefer the Cardoon of 

 Tours. One sort is quite sufficient for all the purposes of 



