78 THE JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE CROP. 



labour they require until the time of harvesting arrives, 

 when they are dug up with a fork in the usual manner. 

 Owing to the erect and vigorous habit of growth of the plant, 

 and the largely-developed stem and leaves which it carries, it 

 is always good policy to give the plants full access to light 

 and air, and this can only be secured by keeping them 

 wide apart on the ground. Three feet distances each way 

 would no doubt give a larger return per acre than when 

 placed closer on the ground. The only attention they 

 require during their growth is for the purpose of keeping 

 the surface clean; one or two hoeings are generally sufficient, 

 after which the plants cover the ground, and effectually keep 

 down the growth of weeds. In subsequent years, when the 

 ground is allowed to remain under the same crop, the young 

 plants which spring up from the tubers left in the ground 

 have to be set out by the hoe to the proper distances, after 

 which a small double mouldboard plough is sent in between 

 the rows, and the soil slightly moved and thrown up along 

 the line of plants. At a later period the hoe is used to finish 

 the work of cleaning, and nothing more is done until they 

 are harvested. 



In some districts, where forage is valuable, they are 

 allowed to come up as thick as possible on the ground, and 

 are cut down several times in the course of the season, and 

 given in a green state to the cattle ; in others, the plants are 

 allowed to throw up a good tall stem before they are touched, 

 and then the tops are cut off and used for the same pur- 

 pose. In both cases, however, the practice must cause a 

 decrease in the root produce, in proportion to the amount of 

 injury inflicted on the growing plant. The question, there- 

 fore, lies between the respective values of the green or root 

 produce to the individual cultivator. In some cases the 

 forage produce may compensate for the loss of tubers ; in 

 others, again, the tubers may be the first consideration. 

 The tubers may remain in the ground without any chance 



