FIELD CHOPS. 9 



common, single one-horse plow stock, by using the same 

 heel bolt that is used for fastening on the plow steels 

 (scooters, shovels, bull-tongues, etc., as we call them.) 

 When the soil is fine and free from rocks, stumps, etc., 

 this board covers beautifully by running it over a furrow 

 in which cotton seed or corn has been dropped or sown. 

 If the soil be of a tenacious nature and liable to bake or 

 harden after a rain, it is not best to use this board, but 

 in its stead use a two-pronged or forked plow, which 

 straddles the farrow, leaving a slight ridge over the seed, 

 and in case of baking, this can be knocked off, leaving a 

 loose soil for the seed to come up through. 



FIELD CHOPS. 



We commence with suggestions as to the planting of 

 field crops. 



ARTICHOKE, JERUSALEM. (Helianthus tuberosus.) 



The White French and Red Brazilian are the principal 

 varieties. The plant is cultivated as a root crop, for the 

 sake of its tubers, which are principally used for feeding 

 swine. Ground that will bring good potatoes will suit 

 this crop. Break the ground thoroughly and deeply, lay 

 off rows three feet apart, break the artichokes into pieces 

 containing three or four eyes, drop one of these pieces 

 every eighteen or twenty inches in the drill, and cover 

 three to four inches deep. Plant early as soon as the 

 soil is in working condition. Cultivate the same as In- 

 dian corn. The tubers may be dug after frost or may be 

 left in the ground to be dug as needed. They keep better 

 in the ground than any where else, provided the soil does 

 not freeze over three or four inches deep. The tubers are 



