CHINESE ARTICHOKE 



THE Chinese Artichoke or Stachys tuberifera is a 

 hardy tuberous-rooted perennial, and though a small 

 root is a welcome addition to the winter vegetables. It 

 is not always well grown"; and on this account is not 

 always made the best use of, as unless given good 

 culture the plant gives much smaller tubers and is 

 of much less value. The culture is most simple. 

 The plant, though small, should not be crowded, 

 and it does best in a well-drained, well-enriched free 

 working soil, and the plant to get large tubers should 

 never be allowed to suffer from drought in the growing 

 season. It differs much from the older forms of Arti- 

 choke, as the plant rarely exceeds 1 8 inches in height; 

 and this shows that a wide space is not needed between 

 the rows 1 8 inches will suffice, and 6 to 9 inches in the 

 row ; the growth being weakly a well-worked or fine 

 surface soil is necessary. In heavy clay soils I have 

 made such soil suitable by having raised beds, making 

 the top soil lighter by liberal additions of burnt garden 

 refuse, old fine mortar rubble, and any old potting or leaf 

 soil, the tubers when planted being covered with the 

 light material. Planting is done early in the spring just 

 before growth commences, and it is a good plan to draw 

 drills 6 inches deep and place the small tubers in 

 position at the distances advised above. When the 

 tubers are forming freely, say in July and August, it will 

 be found of great advantage to give liquid manure or 

 flood the quarter, using a quick acting fertiliser if liquid 

 manure is not at hand. Another important point is to 



