126 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



26. JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE. 



HELIANTHUS. 



' <* ' ' \ 



The botanic name of this plant is given as a 

 species of turnsol or sunflower, which, when ex- 

 panded, resembles the figure of the radiant sun, 

 turnsol, from its supposed singularity in turning its 

 face always towards that luminary in his diurnal 

 course. It has the specific name of Tuberosa from 

 its large irregular shaped roots. 



It has the name of artichoke from the tuberous 

 roots, which, when boiled, have the flavour of the 

 true artichoke. The Italians called it " girassol," 

 which was corrupted by the English into Jerusalem ; 

 hence the common name Jerusalem artichoke. 



This root, which a learned author says is more 

 pleasant than profitable, is, though of so hardy a 

 nature, a native of the Brazils, in South America, 

 whence it was sent to France; and at the time 

 the French were in possession of the Canadas, in 

 North America, it was introduced by them into 

 that country, and throve so well that the name Ca- 

 nada potato was given to it by the inhabitants. The 

 first introduction of the J. artichoke into England 

 was during the reign of James I., and from only 

 two roots the country was so stocked with them, 

 that in the course of a few years they were so 

 cheap and plentiful that the most vulgar began to 

 despise them ; whereas, when first introduced, they 

 were, as Parkinson (an eminent herbalist in those 

 days) says, " a dainty for a queen." 



They were formerly baked in pies with marrow, 



