SUNFLOWERS. 67 



into Europe, and its nativity lias been until 

 lately a matter of doubt. It is now found 

 that a wild species of the plains west of the 

 Mississippi, a plant which bears heads but 

 an inch or two in diameter, exclusive of the 

 rays, is the parent of our cultivated plant. 

 The Indians of the East early obtained it 

 from beyond the Mississippi, and they were 

 cultivating it about the eastern shores of 

 Lake Huron when Champlain and Segard 

 visited them nearly three centuries ago. The 

 Indians used the seeds for making hair-oil 

 and for eating. Under their cultivation the 

 flower-heads began to assume their abnormal 

 size. One of the sunflowers is the artichoke 

 of our gardens, which yields edible subter- 

 ranean tubers. This plant is also a native 

 of our Western plains, and it has a history 

 not unlike that of the sunflower. It was in- 

 troduced into Europe as early as 1617, and 

 the Italians began its cultivation under the 

 name of Girasole Articocco, Sunflower arti- 

 choke. The name Girasole became cor- 

 rupted into Jerusalem, and the plant is now 

 commonly known in England as Jerusalem 

 artichoke. It has commonly been supposed 

 that the plant is a native of Brazil, but late 

 evidence affords proof that our Indians cul- 



