A RTHROPODIUM ARTICHOKE. 



205 



ARTHROPODIUM (R. Brown). A genus of 

 five species of perennial herbs, chiefly natives of New 

 Holland. Linnsean class and order Hexandria Mo- 

 nogynia ; natural order Asphodelea;. Generic charac- 

 ter : corolla six-petals, spreading ; the margin of the 

 inner petals undulating or fringed ; pedicles jointed; 

 stamens below the germen ; filaments bearded ; an- 

 thers erect, base with a margin ; style like a thread ; 

 stigma hairy ; capsule three-celled, threc-valved ; 

 seeds angular. * These plants are only seen in bota- 

 nical collections or herbariums. 



ARTICHOKE. The Cynam smhjmus of bo- 

 tanists. Of this genus there are eight species, 

 two of them i-ultivatcd, and long introduced from 

 the south of Europe. Linnioan class and order Si/n- 

 genfuin sKqitnlis; natural order Composite. Generic 

 character: scales of the anthodium fleshy at tlie base, 

 armed with spines ; receptacle fleshy, chaft' cut and 

 defensive ; pappus seated, and feeble. This large 

 exotic herb is cultivated for the fleshy receptacle or 

 base of its flowers for the use of the table. It is 

 more a delicacy than a necessary of the kitchen gar- 

 den, but as it is often partaken of by valetudinarian?, 

 who can relish nothing else, and moreover, considered 

 nutritive and not destitute of some valuable medici- 

 nal qualities, it. is held in high estimation. 



Cullivnlion. As great bulk in the plant and conse- 

 quent amplitude in the flower constitutes the princi- 

 pal value of the artichoke, much care is bestowed 

 on the preparation of the soil intended for them, 

 as well by deep trenching or double digging as by 

 enriching with good dung or compost. The favourite 

 soil of these plants is a deep, rich friable loam ; and 

 as it has been observed that they grow luxuriantly 

 in the neighbourhood of the sea-shore, a mode- 

 rate portion of salt is supposed to be necessary to 

 them. Artichokes, however, will succeed anywhere, 

 provided the ground is made deep and rich enough. 



New plantations are made in the spring. The 

 ground intended for them should receive a good coat 

 of rotted dung, five or six inches thick. This should 

 be trenched in at least sixteen inches deep, and if it 

 be a clayey subsoil, twenty-four inches will be still 

 better. If the natural soil be considered too heavy 

 and tenacious, a portion of sand, or of some looser 

 description of earth may be incorporated when the 

 trenching is done. This work should be done any 

 time between the first of October and beginning of 

 March, while the weather is dry, in order that the 

 ground may be settled and ready to receive the plants 

 about the middle of April. Previous to planting, say 

 about the middle of March, the ground should receive 

 another coat of well rotted* dung, or rich compost : 

 this should be neatly digged in, the surface levelled, 

 and divided into four-feet beds, along the middle 

 of each the rows of plants are to stand. 



The root of the plant is large and fleshy, haVing 

 strong spurs, which descend deeply into the ground. 

 This is the reason why a deeply lying stratum of rich 

 dung is required for the points of the roots. The 

 crown of the roots is compound, that is, composed of 

 one central and many surrounding buds, which shoot 

 up during summer. A root, if left to nature, becomes, 

 in the course of years, very much extended laterally ; 

 but as this would yield a great number of heads of 

 too small a size, the proper practice is to reduce the 

 number of suckers, or side branches, in the beginning 

 of April, leaving only four or five of the strongest to 

 form sizeable heads. 



It is from this necessary dismemberment of the old 

 stools that young plants are obtained with which to 

 make new plantations. Drawing away the earth 

 from the base of the stool, allows the side shoots to 

 be slipped off with ease, each with a few fibres 

 attached. A lot of the largest and best rooted are 

 chosen to be planted ; part of the top of their leaves 

 is cut off ; a line is stretched along the middle of 

 each bed on the prepared ground, and the plants 

 introduced at two feet distances apart. The plants 

 should be let in at least eight inches deep, and if the 

 soil be very dry a little water may be given to each. 

 This, together with the manure previously digged in, 

 will expedite their rooting, and ensure a luxuriant 

 growth during the ensuing season. 



The summer management only consists in keeping 

 the ground free from weeds by deep hoeing, occa- 

 sionally ; intervals between the rows being usually 

 cropped with some low growing summer plant as 

 lettuce, dwarf beans, or the like. 



If the season be favourable and the plants have 

 taken kindly to their new place, they will each pro- 

 duce small heads in the autumn. These, perhaps, 

 may be too small for plain boiling ; but they are 

 used in other ways by the cook, or for slicing in 

 salads. 



The roots are liable to injury from frost, and there- 

 fore, on the approach of winter, the precaution called 

 the winter dressing is bestowed. About the 2oth of 

 October, the largest dangling leaves are trimmed 

 away from each stool ; the central leaves are pre- 

 served and loosely tied together with a string of bass, 

 a quantity of loose, dry litter, or fern is brought and 

 piled round the leaves and extending over so as to 

 cover the roots. The whole surface of the ground is 

 then digged over, working the earth towards the 

 rows of plants, so that each row shall stand in a 

 ridge, a graduated hollow being left along the middle 

 of the intervals. This manner of laying the surface 

 secures the plants not only from frost, but also from 

 being soaked and chilled by the winter snow or 

 rains. 



Thus secured, the plants remain till winter is past, 

 and until the time arrives when they receive their 

 spring dressing. This may be done sooner or later, 

 according as the season is more or less favourable. 

 From the 20th of March to the 10th of April is the 

 usual season for this work. What was done at the 

 winter dressing is reversed at this ; the earth is 

 digged away from the rows of plants, exposing the 

 roots sufficiently for the dresser to make a proper 

 selection of the shoots to be left for a crop, and to 

 reject the supernumeraries. Thus, the selection of 

 the shoots, is the only point in which much judgment 

 is required in the cultivation of the artichoke. If the 

 land they grow in be poor, very few heads should be 

 left to be perfected ; two or three in this case is 

 enough if large flowers are desired ; if the ground be 

 in good heart, and the stools appear strong, five or 

 six of the strongest shoots to yield heads may not be 

 too many ; for in proportion to the luxuriance of the 

 stool should it be called on by the manager to yield 

 accordingly. In choosing the shoots the strongest 

 near the centre should be preferred, otherwise the 

 stool becomes irregular in form, by creeping away 

 from its proper station in the row. 



The heads are not only enlarged by leaving but a 

 few to be perfected on each plant, but also by divest- 

 ing them (the principal stems) of their branches, 



