174 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



should be placed in the background of the small garden 

 and its use as an ornamental hedge or screen is suggested, 

 providing the ground is kept rich and well cultivated. 



Gathering. The flower buds should be removed as soon 

 as they are well formed and before the scales open. In 

 this condition they are more tender and a larger portion 

 of the scale is edible. As the bud stands at the apex of 

 the shoot, the shoot should be cut to the ground. If this is 

 done the plant is induced to send up more shoots. As soon 

 as flowers are allowed to open, the growth of shoots from 

 below is checked or stopped. Hence prompt cutting as 

 soon as in condition insures a larger bearing season, but 

 as other vegetables come into condition, the plants should 

 be allowed to make free top growth for the reinforcement 

 of the roots for the next season. 



Variety. The variety chiefly grown in California is the 

 Large Green Paris, a vigorous grower yielding buds of 

 large size with scales very fleshy at the base and set in a 

 broad receptacle also fleshy. This variety grown for suc- 

 cession seems to leave little opportunity for the use of 

 other varieties. 



THE JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE. 



This plant which will be readily recognized as a tuber- 

 ous-rooted sunflower, is exceedingly prolific in California. 

 It is not largely used for human food, though it is usually 

 to be found in the San Francisco market. It somewhat 

 resembles a potato in flavor, and yet has its own distinc- 

 tive character, and is cooked in several ways. It may be 

 baked, or pared and cooked like salsify, or boiled for use 

 in soups and salads. 



Soil, Culture and Yield. The Jerusalem artichoke is 

 not Very particular about soil. It reaches better form in 

 rather a light soil, as does a potato, and it yields enor- 

 mously on a rich loam, but it will probably yield a greater 

 weight on a poor, dry soil than any other crop known. S. 

 J. Murdock, of Orange county, gives this account of the 

 plant : 



