AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 221 



bers, cither above or below ground, bear a degree of cold that 

 no other cultivated root will do. They are thus of essential util 

 ity in northern climates, and may be left in the ground all win 

 ter, if wanted for early spring use. T lis plant can bear the 

 effects of great heat equally well. With the exception of 

 marshes, all places and all soils suit; and even the shade of 

 trees, in moderation, is not injurious. The following results 

 have been arrived at by experiments in France : 



Alluvial land gave, 20.863 Kilog. of tubers. 



Turfy land, very dry, 26 70S &quot; &quot; 



S truly clay, 22563 



Calcareous earth, lb.9D8 &quot; &quot; 



From which it would appear that dry and light soils agree best 

 with this plant. 



476. In Europe, where Artichokes enter regularly into rota 

 tions, the ground is prepared and manured as if for potatoes, in 

 the spring: and planting should be accomplished, as early as 

 possible. They may, however, be planted, equally well, late in 

 the fall, in dry soils. Whole tubers are used, and placed in rows, 

 at about 1 inch below the surface, leaving sufficient space be 

 tween the rows to use the cultivator, and the plants about nine 

 inches apart. When they appear above ground, the soil is kept 

 clean with the plow or cultivator, and hand hoe. If not har 

 vested the first year, they will cover the whole surface of the 

 ground the second season. 



477. The stalks, if intended for dry fodder, must be left as late 

 as the climate will allow of their being entirely dried. They 

 may be cut with a strong sickle, or a corn-knife, from 2 to 3 feet 

 above the ground, if tall ; or in proportion, if short. They are 

 lightly bound in bundles, and seven of these bundles are placed 

 in shocks. After a week, and when the outside leaves are well 

 dried, the shocks are separated, and replaced, so that 14 stand 

 together, and 7 are placed on the top, like a roof, with the cut 

 ends upward, and strongly fastened toward that end. In thia 

 way they stand till perfectly dry. 



