GARDENING— VEGETABLES 



ARTICHOKES (GLOBE) 



The artichoke, originally a native of Italy, was 

 introduced into England during the reign of Henry 

 VIII., and it is generally believed that the name 

 refers to the part which is not eaten, and which is 

 called * the choke,' though that is quite a fallacy, as 

 it is merely the English way of spelling its French 

 name, artzchaut, which is explained by old writers, 

 who say it is a corruption of its Arabic name 

 {alcocalos)^ from its heads being shaped like a pine- 

 apple. 



Artichokes are strong growing plants, and will 

 grow almost in any kind of soil as long as it is 

 properly prepared ; but, though they prefer a good 

 rich garden soil, the ground should be manured 

 and trenched in the middle of January, and the 

 land should be broken up deeply and left with a 

 rough surface till the end of March, then forked 

 over, and the suckers planted (suckers are better 

 than seeds) early in April four feet apart. The 

 suckers are best when about nine inches long. 

 Good manure should be placed between the rows 



B 



