GLOBE ARTICHOKE 5 



than do plants from suckers, especially in a dry season, their initial 

 vigour causing them to send their roots to a great depth. 



To advise on weeding and hoeing to promote a clean and vigorous 

 growth should be needless, because all crops require such attention. 

 But as to the production of large heads, a few words of advice may 

 be useful. It is the practice with some growers to twist a piece of 

 wire round the stem about three inches below the head. This cer- 

 tainly does tend to increase the size, but the same end may be 

 accomplished by other means. In the first place, a rich deep bed 

 and abundant supplies of water will encourage the growth of fine 

 heads. Further aid in the same direction will be derived from the 

 removal of all the lateral heads that appear when they are about as 

 large as an egg. Up to this stage they do not tax the energies of 

 the plants in any great degree ; but as the flowers are forming within 

 them, their demands increase rapidly. Their removal, therefore, has 

 an immediate effect on the main heads, and these attain to large 

 dimensions without the aid of wire. The small heads will be valued 

 at many tables for eating raw, as they are eaten in Italy, or cooked as 

 ' artichauts frits,' or ' a la Provengale.' The larger main heads are 

 the best for serving boiled in the usual way. After the heads are 

 used the plants should be cut down. 



CHARDS are the blanched summer growth of Globe Artichokes, 

 and are by many preferred to blanched Cardoons. In the early part 

 of July the plants selected for Chards must be cut over about half a 

 foot from the ground. In about a week after this operation they 

 should have a copious watering, which should be repeated weekly, 

 except when heavy rains occur. By the end of September they 

 will have made much growth, and will be ready for blanching. Draw 

 them together and put a band of hay or straw around them, and earth 

 them up and finish the work neatly. The blanching will take fully 

 six weeks, during which time there will be but little growth made 

 hence the necessity for promoting free growth before earthing up. 

 Any Chards not used before winter sets in may be preserved by lift- 

 ing and packing in .sand in a dry shed. 



The Artichoke 'is hardy on dry soils when the winter is of only 

 average severity. But on moist soils, which are so favourable to the 

 production of fine heads, a severe winter will destroy the plantations 

 unless they have some kind of protection. The usual course of pro- 

 cedure is to cut down the stems and large leaves without touching the 

 smaller central leaves, and to partially earth up the rows with earth 

 taken from between when severe frost appears likely ; this protection 



