4 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



for its flower-heads, which, when young, are picked and 

 cooked, pickled, or (with some varieties) eaten raw. 

 Plantations should be renewed every two to four years ; 

 in fact, for the most prosperous management of a plan- 

 tation, parts of it should be renewed yearly. In plant- 

 ing, quickest and best results are obtained from suck- 

 ers; but American seedsmen chiefly offer seed, which 



Fig. 5. Globe Artichoke seedlings. Two-thirds natural size, 



does not always come true. The plant is hardy but 

 requires protection in our climate. By proper manage- 

 ment, a bed will yield from early summer until frost. 

 Chards, properly 'so called (see Chard), are made by 

 blanching the large leaves of the plant ; but, as this 

 greatly weakens the root, it is best done on plants 

 which are not expected to bear again. Varieties (of 

 which few are offered in America) differ in size, color 

 and earliness. No serious diseases or pests are re- 

 ported. 



Soil should be deep, rich, moist but not wet. 



