SUCCULENT ROOTS. 253 



in 1 167 into this country, where it was much esteem- 

 ed before potatoes were brought into general adoption. 

 It is of the same genus, and has the same appearance 

 as the common sunflower, except that it attains to a 

 greater height, often being ten or twelve feet high. 

 Its name is derived from the similarity of flavour 

 observable between these roots and the bottom of the 

 artichoke. Its distinctive epithet is said to be a cor- 

 ruption of the Italian word for sunflower, girasole, 

 from girare to turn, and sol the sun ; and bears no 

 reference, as many have imagined, to the city of Je- 

 rusalem. 



The period of its flowering is autumn ; but though 

 the roots bear unhurt our severest winters, the plant 

 rarely blooms in this country, and, even then, its seeds 

 never come to maturity. The root is composed of 

 many tubers growing in a cluster, and so prolific is 

 this plant, that there are often from thirty to fifty of 

 these tubers attached to one stem. No care is re- 

 quired in its culture. If, when digging up the roots, 

 the smallest piece of a tuber be left, a plant will 

 spring from it, thus propagating itself almost in the 

 manner of a weed ; so that after it has once found 

 entrance in a garden, there is no little difficulty in 

 extirpating it thence. This plant, however, repays 

 cultivation, and much better roots are obtained from 

 regular setting than from its spontaneous growth. 

 Cuttings of the tubers are planted in the same manner 

 as potatoes in any of the spring months ; the crop 

 can be used in September, and taken up in Novem- 

 ber for winter supply. This root seems to meet with 

 undue neglect in our gardens ; for it is an excellent 

 winter vegetable, which may be grown abundantly at 

 very little cost ; it is wholesome, nutritious, and sa- 

 voury ; and, either boiled or stewed, affords a very 

 agreeable variety for the table. These tubers resemble 



VOL. xv. 22 



