TWO DISTINCT TYPES OF ARTICHOKE 



Typical leaves and flower heads of two strains of artichoke in the Victoria bridge garden at 

 Riverside, Cal. That at the left differs markedly, in both leaves and flower-head, from 

 the one at the right. It is possible that these are both descendants of the same parent 

 plant and that their divergences are to be accounted for by bud variation. Such varia- 

 tion is so frequent, and often breeds so true, that it offers a quick and effective way of 

 improving many important fruits and vegetables. (Fig. 9.) 



period at Riverside for the season of 

 1917 was from about April 1 to about 

 June 15. The number of flower heads 

 produced by each plant varies greatly, 

 some developing only two or three, 

 while others bear twelve or fifteen or 

 more good heads. In some cases the 

 stalks are thinned so that the remain- 

 ing ones will develop larger and super- 

 ior heads. 



In the artichoke garden near the 

 writer's home there are examples of 



several strains. The plants of the 

 various strains differ with respect to 

 their habits of growth, number of 

 shoots and leaves, particularly with 

 regard to the shape and arrangement 

 and other characteristics of leaves, 

 number and shape and other charac- 

 teristics of flower heads, time of matur- 

 ing the flower heads, and other well- 

 defined characteristics. There are fre- 

 quent examples of at least three common 

 strains of which two in particular stand 



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