4 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



depth : let it be well dug and manured ; then plant 

 the sets with a dibble, four feet between the rows, 

 and two feet apart in the row ; give some water to 

 each plant, and occasionally, if the weather con- 

 tinues very dry, till they have taken root. 



This method of planting in single rows will be 

 found superior to the triangle system, which forms 

 too great a mass, and causes the plants to become 

 weakly, besides occasioning more labour to the 

 gardener. They must constantly be kept free from 

 weeds by means of the hoe, which likewise prevents 

 the surface from getting hard ; and I have fully 

 proved, from observation for a number of years, 

 that the more frequently the ground is disturbed 

 with the hoe in dry seasons, the more moisture it 

 retains. 



In the autumn, remove all the large decayed 

 leaves ; then dig and well manure the ground be- 

 tween and along each row. In severe weather, 

 artichokes require more or less protection, and 

 may be covered with the earth taken from between 

 the rows ; but if the severity increases, the globe 

 kind, especially, must have an additional covering, 

 with plenty of dry litter from the stable. 



In the spring, the litter and earth must be re- 

 moved. In .March, according to the weather, the 

 stocks are examined, and about three of the 

 strongest left to grow and produce heads ; the rest 

 are removed by pressure with the thumb, or by a 

 knife. These shoots or suckers are used for the 

 new plantations. Dig the whole ground level, and 

 close up to the crown of the root of each plant, 

 using at the same time plenty of good rotten dung, 



