Ii6 The Jerusalem Artichoke. 



and examines all the opinions which have been given on this subject. We 

 regret not to be able, on account of its length, to reprint it here ; but we 

 refer those of our readers who may be interested in this subject to this 

 interesting notice. 



He states, from indisputable authorities, the following facts : " These plants 

 resist the severest droughts, even in soil naturally arid, and multiply in the 

 poorest land ; they endure the most intense cold without injury ; they 

 need be gathered only as they are needed ; they supply man with healthy 

 food, either boiled or baked, although used chiefly for animals ; and 

 their leaves furnish fodder much sought for by all cattle." 



M. V. de Tracy, a celebrated French agriculturist, cites a remarkable 

 example (" Le Cultivateur," March, 1835) : " On his farm of Paray-le-Fresil, 

 near Moulins (dep. TAllier), in the summer of 1834, the fields were dry, 

 and clover grew only a few inches from the ground. Under these circum- 

 stances, he had recourse to the Jerusalem artichoke, the medium height 

 of which was at that time from five to six feet, presenting an abundant 

 foliage of the finest green. From that time (the middle of August) he 

 mowed these stalks, and for two months a cart-load of about fifteen hun- 

 dred pounds was brought to the farm each day. This green fodder was 

 constantly and readily eaten by the cattle. It is worthy of remark, that 

 the harvest of tubers was not sensibly diminished in the plants where the 

 stalks had been cut. The leaves of the Jerusalem artichoke may be 

 dried, and stored for winter-fodder. In a scarcity of fuel, the stalks of 

 this plant, which are strong and hard, furnish good fuel : they burn ver}'' 

 well when dry ; are useful for heating ovens and for kindling ; they may 

 also be used for pea-sticks, and for light supports or plant-stakes." 



The author concludes his article thus : " The quantit}' yielded by the 

 Jerusalem artichoke varies greatly, according to the soil, and care bestowed 

 on its cultivation. V. Yvart, a celebrated agriculturist, after testing it with 

 the large white common potato, states, that, all circumstances being equal, 

 the advantage has always been in favor of the artichoke, tlje yield of which 

 is three or four times greater. M. V. de Tracy estimates the harvest to 

 be eight or nine times the seed in the clayey-silicious soil of his 

 farm ; that is to say, from three hundred and twent}' to three hundred and 

 eighty-five bushels to the acre. He thinks the produce of green fodder is 



