GARDEN SPECIALTIES 219 



adopted in the provision of a covering to shield 

 the flower village, particularly during its early 

 development. 



Edible Flower Heads 



In at least one case a plant of the tribe has 

 been induced to develop this receptacle until 

 the leaves of its scalelike covering have been 

 enlarged and thickened and made succulent at 

 their base, so that they are edible ; the receptacle 

 on which the flowerets grow being correspond- 

 ingly developed. 



The flower that has thus been induced to put 

 itself at the service of man and add to the delica- 

 cies of his dietary is known as the artichoke. 



This plant is widely cultivated in southern 

 Europe and is exceedingly popular there. In 

 Italy, indeed, it occupies in some regions about 

 the position in the dietary of the masses that the 

 potato does in northern Europe and America. 

 In this country, however, the artichoke has only 

 somewhat recently begun to gain popularity. As 

 the manner of its cultivation is better under- 

 stood, it will doubtless gain wider vogue, for its 

 leaf scales and pulpy receptacle are regarded as 

 delicacies by epicures everywhere. 



I have worked extensively with the artichoke 

 in recent years, beginning with the French 



