ARTICHOKES 



339 



shallow baskets or flats with a little soft packing under 

 the bottom layer and the upper portion papered over. 

 Of course in packing vegetables of any kind the sender 

 is obliged to study weight. Any unnecessary addition 

 adds to cost. On the Continent very light baskets are 

 used to great advantage. 



It is often asked at the time of cutting whether the 

 beds should be cut over entirely without leaving any 

 small growths or spray. This practice is advisable 

 except in the case of beds grown specially for a late 

 supply but even then there must be hard cutting. 



ARTICHOKES. 



There are three kinds : the summer and winter 

 kinds (the Globe section) are in season from June 

 to October and the tuberous-rooted varieties from 

 October to May. The Globe Artichoke is a greater 

 favourite on the Continent than in this country. The 

 heads are at their best when full grown, that is just 

 before the centres begin to open out ; when cut in a 

 smaller state they lack substance and are drier. The 

 heads will be full and fleshy at the base when fit for 

 use ; they keep for some time when the stalk ends are 

 put into water in a cool dark place. The heads at 

 cutting should have about three inches of stalk at- 

 tached, but this of course is removed just before 

 cooking. The heads are very tender when full grown, 

 so that in the early autumn months it is well to cut 

 them as soon as matured and keep as advised. The 



