26 POPULAR VEGETABLES 



them up as required, or clamp them in the same way 

 that potatoes are frequently treated ; they are best 

 when not housed in a warm store, but kept as cool 

 as possible. 



The Chinese Artichoke (Stachys tuberifera). Owing 

 to the small size of the curiously crinkled tubers, this 

 has not become so popular as it deserves ; it needs 

 good land and a little more attention as to culture 

 than the Jerusalem Artichoke. The tubers are small, 

 white, with a clear skin, and produced freely ; over- 

 crowding is a mistake. It does well in a light freely 

 manured loam, with the sets in rows two feet apart, 

 and six inches between the sets. The tubers are 

 much finer when there is no lack of moisture. It 

 is a good plan to mulch between the rows in dry 

 years. The tubers are ready for use early in the 

 autumn, and, though not suitable where quantities 

 are needed, this little root makes a good vegetable 

 for game and entrees. 



ASPARAGUS. 



This is not always grown well, although great 

 strides have been made in its culture during the past 

 quarter of a century. Indeed, the splendid produce 

 exhibited occasionally at the Temple Shows of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society from the Colchester dis- 

 trict, and at other shows, proves that given good 

 culture English-grown Asparagus is as good, if not 

 better, than that imported from the Continent. 



