FRUITS. 157 



its drawing its nitrogen largely from the atmosphere. It is 

 peculiarly fitted tor a spring feed, as the roots lie uninjured 

 by the vicissitudes of the weather, and may be taken out in 

 perfection after most other roots are gone. 



The USES of the Jerusalem artichoke in this country are 

 both for human and animal food. The roots are generally 

 used as a pickle or salad. Loudon says " they may also be 

 eaten boiled, mashed in butter, or baked ki pies, and have an 

 excellent flavor." The tops when cut and cured as hay, 

 afford a good fodder for cattle, and the roots are excellent 

 for sheep and other stock. Swine will thrive upon them 

 through the winter, and do their own harvesting when the 

 ground is not locked up by frost. 



NOTE. 



We give on the following pages the table of nutrive equivalents of food, compiled 

 by Boussingault, as a convenient reference, though not entirely reliable in all 

 cases. For it will be seen from what has before been said, that the particular 

 plants vary not only according to the season and soil, but also frequently, accord- 

 ing to the particular variety subject to analysis. He says: "In the lollowing table, 

 to the numbers assigned by the theory, 1 have added those of the whole which 1 

 find in the entire series of observations that have come to my knowledge. 1 have 

 also given the standard quantity of water, and the quantity "of azote, contained in 

 each species of food. When the theoretical equivalents do not differ too widely 

 from those supplied by direct observation, I believe that they ought to be preferred. 

 The details of my experiments, and the precautions needful in entering on and 

 carrying them through, must have satisfied every one of the difficulties attending 

 their conduct; yet all allow how little these have been attentively contemplated, 

 and what slender measures of precaution against error have been taken. In niy 

 opinion, direct observation or experiment is indispensable, but mainly, solely as a 

 means of checking within rather wide limits the results of chemical analysis." 



