ARTICHOKES 145 



rhizomes are mature. It is much preferable to lift them 

 as required, and this being so, the roots must be covered 

 with litter in frosty weather in order that the ground 

 may be kept soft. 



The persistent encroachment of the Chinese artichoke 

 upon surrounding plots, when the beds are not carefully 

 cleared, is no less provoking than in the case of the 

 Jerusalem tuber. 



The Globe Artichoke has no connection, except in 

 name, with the two preceding plants. Unlike them, it is 

 highly ornamental and should be grown in places where 

 it is desired to combine utility with decorativeness. 



This artichoke is a perennial, but loses its vigour at the 

 end of three or four seasons and should then be rooted up. 

 Propagation is effected by means of seeds or suckers. 

 The seeds are sown on a gentle hotbed early in March. 

 In a few weeks the seedlings are transferred to small pots, 

 are gradually hardened, and then given their permanent 

 quarters in the open towards the end of May (three feet 

 apart). Seeds may be sown out of doors in April, but 

 they will not bear flowers or heads sufficiently large for 

 culinary purposes until the following year. 



Where plants are already growing it is more satisfactory 

 to propagate from suckers than from fresh seed. In 

 April the mature plants give off side shoots ; these should 

 be carefully removed with as much adhering root-growth 

 as possible and transplanted in beds, three feet apart. 

 The outer leaves must be trimmed a little, the root-growth 

 firmly pressed in the ground, and the spaces between the 

 plants littered with a mulch of strawy manure. Heads 

 will be ready by the autumn. 



