JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE 



ii 



varieties from seed have not hitherto been attended with very 

 satisfactory results. From one of these experiments we obtained 

 a variety with yellow tubers which have a finer and more agreeable 

 flavour than the common kind, but the plant is far less productive. 

 This variety may answer as a kitchen- 

 garden plant, but is not suitable for 

 extensive or field culture. 



As this vegetable may be grown in almost 

 any Dlace, it is generally planted on gravelly 

 pieces of ground that would be too dry for 

 other crops. Knolls or mounds are usually 

 cropped with it, and it is also grown along 

 the sides of hedges and in shady places. A 

 few growers, however, grow it on good soil 

 in open and somewhat exposed positions, and 

 the result is an abundant crop of fine tubers. 

 After preparing the ground by manuring and 

 digging or trenching it, the tubers are planted 

 in February, in rows like Potatoes, and are 

 allowed to grow unchecked, and without being 

 earthed up, till November. It has not become 

 very popular perhaps owing to its resemblance 

 to the Potato, to which it is, no doubt, inferior, 

 if looked at only from the Potato standard. 

 But it never should be so regarded, being 

 very distinct from any Potato, and having 

 distinct uses in cookery. It is excellent as 

 baked by French and Italian cooks, the 

 flavour being richer and better this way. 



Jerusalem Potato Artichoke. A 

 remarkable variety, the result of a series 

 of sowings made at Verrieres with 

 seeds gathered in Corsica by Dr. Joseph 

 Michaud. It is distinguishable from the common variety by the 

 greater size of its tubers, which are also rounder, less angular and 

 knobby ; they are yellow in colour. In quality it is equal to the 

 old sort and somewhat superior to it in yield. 



Jerusalem Potato Artichoke. 



ASPARAGUS 



Asparagus officinalis, L. Liliacece. 



French. Asperge. German, Spargel. Flemish and Dutch, Aspersie. Danish, Asparges. 

 Italian, Sparagio. Spanish, Esparrago. Portuguese^ Espargo. 



Native of Europe. Perennial. A plant with numerous simple 

 swollen roots, disposed in the form of a claw, from which spring 

 several stems over 4 ft. in length, straight, branching, very smooth, 

 slightly glaucous, with very minute cylindrical fascicled leaves. 



