MISCELLANEOUS VEGETABLES 115 



repeated in the spring, all weeds also being removed, and a 

 couple of inches of well-rotted manure spread over the whole 

 bed. 



Perhaps the best-known and most profitable variety is Con- 

 nover's Colossal, a splendid, large, all-round sort ; Purple 

 Argenteuill is a late sort, and so is the Purple Dutch ; Mortlake 

 Giant is very suitable for those who wish to force Asparagus, a 

 process I do not recommend the amateur to attempt ; and the 

 Green Canadian and the " Mammoth " special varieties offered 

 by most nurserymen are equally useful sorts. 



THE GLOBE ARTICHOKE (Cynara scolymus). This vege- 

 table consists of the " flowers " of a four-foot plant. These 

 " flowers " are composed of scale-like leaves, overlapping one 

 another, and fleshy at the base. It is propagated either from 

 seeds, " suckers," or division of the old stools ; the best one of 

 these methods being that of using the " suckers/' or shoots, 

 that spring up from the root-stock of the matured plant in the 

 early part of each year. This process, however, requires care, 

 for each shoot should retain a certain portion of the root-stock 

 from which it is cut, without seriously injuring the old plant. 

 The Globe Artichoke is a perennial plant, but it deteriorates 

 after a growth of three or four seasons, and requires replacing 

 by younger stock. Where there is an existing bed of this 

 vegetable, a few shoots may be allowed to remain to provide 

 a continuation of supplies until the new bed comes into bearing ; 

 all the rest being removed for new stock purposes. The 

 " heel " is trimmed and dressed, the leaves shortened, and the 

 shoot is then planted in a bed of rich, moist, deeply-dug and 

 well-drained soil, in rows, with as much space from plant to 

 plant as can be afforded two or three feet, at least. Planting 

 must be done firmly, but not too deeply, and water given to 

 each shoot. Ample liquid supplies are often necessary during 

 growth ; and this, together with the use of the hoe, is practically 

 all the cultivation demanded. The soil, moreover, must be of 

 a well-manured character, rich in humus and moisture-retaining. 

 Sandy loam is an excellent medium. The shoots may, of course, 

 be given special initial culture in nursery-beds, if thought 

 desirable. Produce from these youngsters, if well-cared for, 

 will be gathered during the autumn of the same year ; and the 

 same results attend those raised from seeds sown in February, 

 in a gentle heat, and planted out in May. Where facilities for 

 the latter procedure do not exist, seeds may be sown in April 



