Garden Plants Grown for Their Stems 281 



FIG. 161. Tubers of Jerusalem artichoke, all from one hill. 



Indians at the time America was discovered. It was soon 

 taken to Europe, where it has been rather extensively 

 cultivated ; but in its native land it has been neglected. 

 The swollen underground stems are delicious ; they are 

 usually served boiled. 



The girasole thrives in any good garden soil. Plant 

 three or four small tubers or pieces of large tubers in hills 

 3 feet apart each way. Cultivate as for corn. The leafy 

 stems grow to a height of 6 or more feet, making a dense 

 mass of foliage. The yield of the improved sorts is truly 

 enormous ; a single hill of the " white-tubered " variety 

 often yields as much as 18 pounds of tubers. Some of 

 the less prolific sorts, as Suttorfs Rose, have smoother 

 tubers than those that yield more abundantly. 



The tubers are ready for use in October ; and as the 

 plant is hardy, they may be left in the ground during the 

 winter without injury. 



