July,] THE CULINARY GARDEN. 197 



in length, and nine or ten inches in breadth over the plants, 

 and the mould drawn up to their sides so as to keep them in 

 a steady position. In several places, however, pots are to be 

 procured made for the express purpose of blanching endive, 

 and are similar to those used for sea-kale, only rather smaller 

 in size. The common garden flower-pot will blanch endive 

 well, and the same directions will apply as those which have 

 been already given for sea-kale. 



EARTHING UP CARDOONS. 



It is now the proper season to give a final thinning to the 

 cardoons which were sown in May, and they should be left at 

 a distance of eight or nine inches apart in the row. The 

 ground must be hoed amongst them, for the purpose of stirring 

 the surface, and also for the eradication of any weeds that may 

 be in the ground. A little of the earth which was thrown out 

 in the formation of the trenches, may be put to their stems, 

 but too much earth must not be put at one time, and the 

 greatest care must be taken not to bury their heart-leaves. 

 The earthing up must always be done when the ground is di'y, 

 and it must be repeated every two or three weeks during the 

 summer, for if the plants be allowed to grow to any length 

 between the earthings, a considerable difficulty will be expe- 

 rienced in performing the operation properly, on account of 

 the rapid growth of the plants. 



There is a species of cardoon cultivated in France under 

 the name of cardoon of Tours, which is reckoned better than 

 the sort cultivated in England. It is of so formidable a nature, 

 in consequence of the spines, with which it is thickly covered, 

 that great caution is necessary in working amongst them to 

 avoid personal injury. A strong leather dress and gloves are 

 therefore worn in all operations with this species. It has not 

 been }'et introduced into the British gardens, as far as we can 

 learn. 



Cardoons sown in June for a full crop, may, about the end 

 of the month, be finally thinned out; taking care to earth 

 them up as they advance in growth. 



