■iJi
gradually from both sides, ridgeways over the roots, and close about tbe plants. In rigorous frosty weath
er, cover also iu tlm litter, a foot thick, and close about each p ian t.”
38()G. S p r in g d re ssin g . Iu spring, the litte r and earth being removed in March or April, according to
th e kind of season, the stocks are examined ; and two or three of th e strongest or best shoots being
selected for growing, the rest are removed by pressure with the thumb, or by a knife, or wooden chisel.
Those shoots or suckers arc used for new plantations. Dig the wholc ground level, loosening it close
up to the crown of the roots of every plant.
38G7. D u r a tio n o f th e p la n ts . “ Artichoke-plants continue productive for several years ; but, every
season, some well-rotted dung or fresh sea-weed should be delved into the ground at the winter dressing.
It is certain, however, that after a few years, the plants begin to degenerate, the heads becoming smaller
and less succulent. It is therefore a general rule not to keep an artichoke plantation beyond four or at
most six years. Scarcely any kind of grub or wirc-worm ever touches the roots of artichokes : they form,
therefore, an excellent preparative for a crop of onions, shallot, or garlic. In many gardens, a small new
i)lantation is formed every y e a r; and in this way the artichoke season, which begins in .Tune, is pro-
onged till November; those from the old stocks continuing till August, when those fVom the new stocks
come in. If the last gathered be cut with th e stems a t full length, and if these be stuck among moist
sand, the heads may be preserved a month longer.”
38Ü8. CtiUure f o r p ro d u c in g the chard. “ When the artichoke compartment is to be shifted, and the
old stocks are a t any ra te to be destroyed, th e plants may be prepared, after midsummer, when the best
crop of heads is over, for yielding chards against winter. The leaves are to be cut over within half a foot
of the gro u n d ; the stems as low as possible. In September or October, when the new .shoots or leaves
are about 2 ft. high, they are bound close with a wreath of hay or straw, and earth or litte r is drawn
round the stems of the plants. T h e blanching is perfected in a month or six weeks. If the chards are
wished late in winter, th e old plants may be dug up before frost sets in, and laid in sand in thcir
blanched s ta te ; in this way they may be kept for several weeks.”
38Gy. Seed. The heads, when suffered to remain ten days or a fortnight after the season of cutting,
expand the calyx leaves, and display an aggregation of jagged purple florets, producing a fine appearance.
When ripe seed is wanted, those heads in flower are to be bent down and retained in th at position,
so th a t the calyx may throw off the autumnal rains. In general, however, th e seed is not perfected in
our climate.
S u b s e c t . 4. Cardoon, or Chardoon. — Cynara Cardúnculus L.; Syng. Polyg. UHqu. L.
and Cynarocéphalce J. Cardón, Fr. and Ital.; and Kardonen, Ger.
3870. The cardoon is a hardy perennial plant, a native of Candia, and introduced into
England in 1658. It greatly resembles tho aitichokc, but is much taller ; aud becomes
a truly gigantic herbaceous vegetable of 4 ft. or 5 ft. in height. It produces flowers
like those of the ai'tichoke in August and September.
3871. Use. The tender stalks o fth e inner leaves o fth e cardoon, rendered white and tender by earthing
up, are used for stewing, and for soups and salads, in autumn and winter. When the plants arc large,
th e inner leaves and stalks are rendered, by blanching, white, crisp, and tender, to the extent of 2 ft. or
3 ft. T h e plant is not in much request, and is only cultivated in some particular family-gardens, and a
few market-grounds. On th e continent, it is in considerable repute, as indeed are m any salad and potherbs,
which are comparatively neglected in this country. In France, the flowers of the cardoon are
gathered, and dried in the shade, and used instead of rennet to coagulate m ilk. (G ard. Afag., vol. iii. p. 47.)
3%12. Varie tie s. These are —
1. The common, Cardo
2. Sjianish.
3873. E s tim a te o f so rts. The Spanish cardoon is generally considered the best, from the size, succulency,
and solidity of the midribs of its leaves. (L in d le y ’s Guide, 85c., p. 53.5.)
387L P ro p a g a tio n . Though a perennial, it often dies in the winter, and therefore requires to b e raised
from seed almost every y e a r; and for a bed 4 ft. wide by 8 ft., 2 oz. are sufficient. Formerly the plants
were raised on hotbeds, and transplanted in May and June, but now the seed is generally sown where
th e plants arc to remain, which is found to be far preferable. (Ib id .)
3875. Soil. The best soil for the cardoon is one th a t is light, deep, and not over rich.
387G. T ime s o f sowing. T h e chief sowings are made in the spring; for a small early crop, in the last
fortnight of M arch; and for th e main corp, in the first or second week of April. Farther, for a late full
crop, you may sow towards the close of June.
3877. S ow in g f o r tra n sp la n tin g . Sowin a lied of common light earth, moderately thin ; and rake in
th e seed evenly. W‘hen th e plants have risen, thin them to 3 in. or 4 in. distance, to give them room to
acquire stocky growth for transplanting. When they have been raised about eight weeks, transplant
them ; allotting an open compartment of well dug ground, and taking an opportunity of rain I'alling.
Having lifted the plants, trim any long straggling tops of the leaves and fibres of the roots. I’lant them
either in the level ground, or in drills, or form a hollow patch for each p la n t; in all cases a t 4^ ft. distance.
Thus you will have ample sccijje for their growth, and considerable space of to': . „1 a; ____ ; ___ n._ izii Al A— I— A AT_____ i-------;g__r_ou n d toat .l atn._d_ t_h_e_m_, Give water at planting, and occasionally till they take root. In their advancing growth, hoe and
J about the plants, cutting ¿own a” '
loosen the ground i
3878. S ow in g any c’h ec’k k ’b by y remova’l re , to ti
r em a in . A crop may be raised bv sowing where the crops are to remain, not to have
. .
. S" ow -i•-n- --s-m--'a.1l1l hhoolrl ow pat■ ches, at the d ista nce spec ified’ a’b ove, ■two or three seeds
In in each. Thin the plants to one strongest in ii
each patch.
3879. L a n d in g u p . When tho plants are advanced in large growth, 2ft. or 3 ft. high or more, i
August, September, and October, proceed to land them up for blanching. F irs t tie th e leaves of each
p lant together with hay or straw bands ; then digging and breaking th e ground, ea rth up round each
p lant a foot or more high or two thirds of the stem. As the stems rise higher, tic and earth them up
accordingly, giving them a final earthing in October.
3880. W a te r in g in a u tum n . Regular waterings in th e dry w eather of August and September will p revent
th e plants from seeding.
3881. T a k in g the c rop. When they are blanched U f t. or 2 ft. in length, or more, they may be dug up
as wanted, in September, October, and throughout winter.
3882. Occasional shelter. Trotect the plants in severe frost with long litte r, either as they stand, or
turned down on one side.
3883. T o sa v e seed. Leave some full-grown plants in the spring, to shoot up in stalk. [Abercrombie.)
S u b s e c t . 5. Rampion. — Campánula Rapúnculus L. {Eng. Bot. 283.); Pentándria
Monog. L. and Campanulacece B. P. Raiponce, F r.; Rapunzel, Gcr.; and Rape-
ronzo, Ital.
3884. The rampion is a biennial plant, a native of England, but rare. The root is
long, -R'liitc, and spindle-shaped ; the lower leaves oval-lanceolate, and uravcd; the ilowcrstalk
is about 2ft. high, and furnished with a panicle of blue flowers iu July and
August. Tlic wholc plant abounds with a milky juice.
3885. Use. The root is cfiton raw Hke a radish, and has a pleasant nutty flavour ; it is also sometimes
cut into winter salads, and then the leaves as well as tho root are used.
388G. Culture. The seed should be sown in the latter end of May, on a shady border of rich earth, not
over stiff, the mould being made as firm as possible : it is better not to rake in the seed, which, being so
very fine, may, by th at operation, be buried too deep. If the sowing is earlier than May, the plants will
sometimes run to flower in the autumn, and so become useless. Moderate waterings must be given as
they come up, through a fine rose of a watering-pot, and it is necessziry that they be kept, a t all times,
tolerably moist. When the plants are of sufficient size, they must be thinned out to the distance of Sin.
or 4 in. a p a rt; those drawn will bear transplanting welt, if put into a border similar to the secd-bed, but
care must be taken to insert the roots straight into the earth, and not to press th e m ould too close : the
roots which become forked are not so good as the straight ones. In November, the plants will be fit for
use, and will continue so until April. (Dic k son, in H o r t. T ra n s .)
3887. 'To save seed. Leave or transplant some of the best plants in spring, and they will produce
flowers and abundance of seed in autumn.
S u b s e c t . 6. Hop.— Humulus Litpulus L. (Eng. Bot. 427.) ; Diiricia Pentdnd. L. and
Erticea J. Houhlon, F r.; Hopfen, Gcr. ; Hoppe, Dutch; Lupolo, Ital. and Port.;
and Homhrecillo, Span.
3888. The hop is a perennial plant, a native of Britain, and well known as being
cultivated for its flowers, whicli arc used in prescrnng beer. It rises with a rough shoot,
and rough tripartite leaves, the former climbing round whiitcvcr comes in its way to a
considerable height, and producing flowers of a peculiar odour in July.
3889. Use in cook c iy . 'I'he young shoots, when they have risen 3 in. or 4 in. from the root, were formerly
gathered and boiled like asparagus, to which they are very little inferior : these shoots are still
occasionally to be found in the market, under th e name of hop-tops. A pillow filled with hop-flowers is
’ ■ '■ ’ 3 ta k e n in te rn a lly .
i.,§6G3.) In the
- ------- o - ................. - ..............-J— -------J - - c— OT........... -OT^j, perfectly white,
like blanched chiccory, or asparagus. They appear to be blanched by earthing up with sand. (Gard.
M a g ., vol. ii. p. 461.)
3890._ Culture . T h e hop is propagated by dividing the roots in autumn or spring. It requires a deep
rich soil, which should be frequently stirred, and kept quite free of weeds, and the plantation should be
renewed every seven or ten years according to circumstances. In field culture, it is planted in hills or in
groups of three or four plants, at 6 ft. or 8 ft.centre from centre ; bu t in growmg a few for hop-tops, they
may be planted in single rows at 3 ft. distance, and one foot asunder in the row. In somo seasons, the
hops are terribly injured by a small jumping beetle called the flea ; it appears a t the same time as th at
infesting tho turnip, and may be destroyed by the same means : the aphis or green fly frequently occasions
incalculable damage, and its progress can o n l y ’ ’ ’ - ’ ’ ’• ’
lime-duster.
^ . . l y f . . , , ____
ainagc,only be checked by powdered lime applied w ith any good
S u b s ec t . 7. Alisander, or Mexanders {fig. — ^mijrnium Olusdtrum L. {Eng.
Bot 230.); Pent Dig. L. aud UmhelUfera J. Maceron, F r.; Smyrnerkraut, Gcr.;
and Macerone, Ital.
3891. The alisander is a biennial plant, rising about 2 ft. high, and flowering in
May and June; the Iciivcs are of a pale green colour,
and the flowers ycllowisli. It grows naturally nciu-
the sea in several [flaccs, and m.ay often be observed
naturalised near old buildings.
3892. Use. It was formerly much cultivated, its leaf-stalks
having been used, when blanched, as a potherb and salad. It
somewhat resembles the celery in fiavour, by which vegetable
it has been ahnost entirely supplanted. Some consider the
leaves and stalks of the S. perfoliAtum, a native of Italy, as p referable
to those of this plant.
3893. Culture. “ Where the plants are in demand, sow a proportionate
crop a t the close of March, in the course of April, or
the beginmng of May; either broadcast, raking in the seed, the
plants, when between 3 in. and 6 in. high, to be transplanted
into drills, 18 in. or 2 ft. asunder, by 5 in. or 6 in. apart in each
row ; or sow a t once in drills that distance, to remain, tliinning
out the superfluous plants in proper time. The seed is sold by
weiglit, and if sown to transplant, for a bed 34 ft. wide by 6 ft.
in length (21 superficial feet), half an ounce will suffice; if sown
to remain, then for a bed 4 ft. by 24 ft., containing two drills,
2 ft. apart, or for 48 ft. in length of drilling, then 1 oz. will bo
requisite. When the idants arc well advanced in growth, earth
them up several inches on each side the rows, to blanch the
lower parts white, for use in summer, autumn, &c. You may likewise sow a moderate portion in Auf/
w n p L S / o m r i n . ” ^
3894. To save seed. _ The a lis a n ^ r produces nothing fit for the table after th e second y e a r; and as it
ripens plenty of seed m autumn, it is proper to save some every year for sowing as above. (A f* ^m W 4 .)
S e c t . VII. Acetarious Plants.
3895. The acetarious vegetables are a numerous class, of various culture, habits, and
use, an(l of which but little that is general can be here observed, excepting that they are
all articles of comparative luxury, or condiments, rather than food; and consequently,
that though they occupy a moderate portion, perhaps, a fortieth of the kitchen-garden,
r i '
ii*