VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 161 



garden vegetables in all country places, and even in towns 

 we do not escape ; they can be repelled by a tight board 

 fence, or a close hedge of the Macartney rose. Choice 

 trees can be bound up in straw during the winter, or in an 

 envelope of chestnut bark slipped over the stem. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 

 ARTICHOKE, (Cynara Scofymus,) 



The garden artichoke is a perennial plant, a native of 

 the south of Europe, where it has been in cultivation from 

 the time of the Romans. Columella mentions it, and says 

 its name Cynara is from cinere (ashes), because the soil 

 for artichokes should be dressed with ashes. The plant 

 resembles an overgrown thistle, but is more beautiful ; has 

 large pinnatifid leaves, three or four feet long, covered 

 with an ash-colored down. The eatable portion is the 

 undeveloped flower head, which is only fit for use before 

 it begins to open its bloom ; it is about the size and some- 

 what the shape of a small pineapple. 



As the artichoke is a native of a hot climate, it is per- 

 fectly adapted to the temperature of the South, and is 

 hardy throughout the Union. It adds a pleasant variety 

 to our early summer luxuries, and should be in more gen- 

 eral cultivation. 



There are three varieties : the Globe, the Oval Green, 

 and the Purple. The first has dull purplish heads with 

 scales turned in at the top, and is most esteemed, the edi- 

 ble parts being larger. The Oval Green is the hardiest 

 sort, and has a conical or ovate head, with pointed scales 



