222 AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



478. The tubers may be dug when convenient, in the same 

 manner that potatoes are ; but, if another crop is intended to 

 succeed, great care must be taken to gather up every portion. 

 As they grow in clumps, a little experience will render this easy. 

 If it is intended to continue artichokes on the same ground 

 enough small tubers may be left to serve for seed next season. 



479. If they are to be used during the winter, they may be 

 piled in heaps in a dry place, and covered with straw and earth. 

 Wet injures them more than frost. (Girardin and JDebreul; 

 See also Patent Office Report 1844, p. 145; 1845, p. 321; 

 1846, p. 186; 1848, p. 159, 578.) 



480. In the above references, much interesting information w 11 be 

 found. We would hardly, in our present state of Agriculture, recom 

 mend this crop to be introduced into our rotations or upon rich so Is, 

 but we are confident that erery farmer would find it profitable to set 

 npart a field for this plant, and use the stalks in place of hay, and the 

 tubers for his horses, sheep, milch c.&amp;gt;ws, and hogs in winter and spring. 

 There are certainly few plants which can be raised so readily, nor one 

 vhich will yield more food at li-ss cost. After a few years the artichoke 

 will die out, in many localities ; having exhausted the soil of the peculiar 

 food it requires* 



