CARDOON 
21 
the soil, thin to the largest and grow near the glass, 
and give the seedlings ample ventilation as growth 
increases. For the planting out, the ground or trenches 
should be prepared in advance, and even when the 
plants are grown in the open from the start this advice 
still applies. The trenches should be at least 4 feet apart, 
and 1 2 inches deep, not taking into account the manure 
which is placed in the bottom of the trench, of which 
there should be at least 6 inches. This is dug in, and 
the plants placed at 1 8 inches apart in the trench. For 
the large growers more room is advantageous. To get 
the plants for the first supply — I mean those raised under 
glass, and when this plant is liked two or three lots 
may be grown, thus forming a succession — the same 
routine may be followed as concerns the land and 
spaces, but the seed may be sown in the trench, a few 
seeds dropped in at intervals of 1 8 inches lightly 
covered with soil, and when large enough thinned to 
the strongest. Doubtless this is the best system, for 
medium-sized produce, when only one lot of plants is 
grown, as should the least check occur to the plants 
raised in heat they invariably bolt or run to seed. If 
a late lot of plants should be required, seed may be 
sown in June, but the end of April or early in May 
is the best time for the open ground plants. All 
varieties are obtained from seed, and at the start the 
growth is slow in comparison with the after-growth as 
the plant will make rapid progress after midsummer 
providing there is no lack of moisture. 
The after-management of the plants is simple. It 
may be summed up as plenty of food in the shape of 
moisture and liquid manure, and attention to moulding 
up, that is, blanching and protection from frost and rain. 
As regards the blanching, the plants should be full 
grown or nearly so before this is attempted ; I do not 
advise doing the work before October, and it should 
