10 On the Varieties of Cardoon, fyc. 



the cooking than is commonly applied to it, which is pro- 

 bably the cause of its not being so frequently grown. 



The Cardoon is a native of the South of Europe, and the 

 Northern parts of Africa. Though a perennial, it is used in 

 gardens only in the first year of its growth, except when it is 

 kept over to the succeeding year for the purpose of saving its 

 seed. Mr. Neill, in his Treatise on Horticulture, published 

 in the Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, states that it was cultivated 

 in the Botanic garden at Holy rood House, in 1683. He is the 

 first British writer on gardening, who has noticed more than 

 one variety ; he mentions the Cardon de Tours as cultivated 

 by the French, but as not having then ( 1817 )been introduced 

 into Britain. 



The French gardeners call these plants Artichaut Cardon, 

 Carde and Cardonette, and have for some time cultivated* two 

 varieties, the Cardon d'Espagne, and the Cardon de Tours, 

 the latter being by them considered the best, because it is said 

 that its ribs are thicker, tenderer, and more delicate. This 

 originated at Tours, and is there much in use. The Bon 

 Jardinierf has lately, in addition to these, mentioned two 

 others, one entirely without spines, and the other with 

 red stems, both of which will be noticed in the following 

 descriptions. 



I have included all the sorts known to me under four heads. 

 Seeds of the French kinds, received from M. Vilmorin, have 

 been cultivated in the garden of the Horticultural Society at 

 Chiswick, where my engagement has afforded me an oppor- 

 tunity of examining them. The two first kinds mentioned 



• Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturellcs, Tome iii. 



f See Bon Jardinier for 1825, page 94, and for 1826, page 121. 



