VEGETABLES OR FOOD CROPS 235 



Artichoke, Chinese. (Stachys tubenfera. X. O. Labiatae). A 

 dwarf herbaceous plant, bearing underground white spiral-like 

 tubers, 2 to 2\ inches in length and about \ an inch in thickness. 

 They are eaten either cooked as a vegetable, or raw like radishes, 

 being said to somewhat resemble the latter in flavour with a sug- 

 gestion of the Jerusalem Artichoke. The plant has been found to 

 succeed at Hakgala Gardens, where MR. W. NOCK reported in 

 1889 thus: "The ground is literally full of the small edible roots." 

 This vegetable is not much grown in England, but is popular in 

 France. 



Artichoke, Globe (Cynara Scolymus. X. O. Composite). The 

 tender part of the globular unexpanded flower-head, after being 

 boiled and eaten, is much relished as a vegetable. The plant 

 thrives to perfection at Nuwara Eliya, growing sometimes in a 

 semi-naturalised state, but is unsuited to elevations below 4,000 

 feet. Propagated by seed or suckers, preferably the former. Seed 

 should be sown early in the year in boxes or pots under cover, 

 but exposed as much as possible to the light, otherwise the seed- 

 lings are apt to damp off. The seed should germinate in 10 or 12 

 days after sowing. Prick out the seedlings when strong enough 

 into a well-prepared and sheltered bed, and when these are about 

 4 in. high, plant them out 3 ft. by 4 ft. apart in rows. Good heads 

 should be produced in about 8 months from the time of planting. 

 The plants thrive best in a rich moist soil, as by the side of water 

 channels or streams. 



VARIETIES . " Green Globe " and " Purple Globe " are both 

 good. 



Artichoke, Jerusalem ( Hclia nthus tuberosus. X. O. Compos- 

 itae). This much-relished esculent is one of the most successfully 

 cultivated of European vegetables at low or intermediate elevations 

 (2,000 to 4,000 ft.) in Ceylon where, curiously enough, it thrives 

 better than at higher elevations. The plants like a rich free moist 

 soil and, under congenial conditions, grow 5 to 6 ft. in height. In 

 the tropics, however, they only reach a height of 2 to 3 ft. and the 

 stems are inclined to a trailing habit. Plant the tubers in May at 

 intervals of 16 inches, in lines about 2i ft. apart. Pick off any flowers 

 that may appear on the plants. A crop of tubers may usually be 

 obtained in 5 to 6 months from the time of planting, and when 

 these are taken up they should be covered with earth. In the 

 tropics the tubers deteriorate to some extent after each crop, so 

 that new sets should be imported every year if possible. 



