AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 115 



moved at the opening of spring, when the eai-th should also be 

 lightly dug about them, and the hills dressed. 



The time to cut the heads for use is immediately before the 

 appearance of the blossom, just when the centre of the head be- 

 gins to open. 



JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE, HELIANTHUS TUBEROSUS. 

 French, Poire de Terre. — German, Erde Apfol. — vSpanisli, Girasol. 



This is a tuberous-rooted species of sunflower, which affords 

 tolerable food for hogs when planted in a low rich spot, of which 

 it can have full possession until the swine are turned in to 

 root it up ; it needs only to be once planted in the manner of 

 potatoes to insure a large crop every year, if the hogs are kept 

 out until fall, when they will leave enough seed in the ground 

 for the next year's crop. 



This root is sometimes used for pickling, or eaten cut up in 

 vinegar as cucumbers, and still more rarely boiled for use by 

 those who happen to fancy a sweetish, watery potato, which, 

 when cooked, it nearly resembles. It has been used to some 

 extent for sheep, and even the tops cured for winter fodder, but 

 it is probably comparatively valueless for these purposes. 



ASPARAGUS. 



French, Asperge. — German, Spargel. — Spanish, Esparrago. 

 GIANT, WHITE, GREEN, ETC. 



BRIEF DIRECTIONS. 



Sow thinly in shallow drills twelve inches apart. Hoe 

 often, and keep perfectly clear of weeds. At one year old the 

 plants may be transplanted into permanent beds, at one foot 

 apart each way. Time : sow in the fall or as early in spring 

 as practicable. Transplant in spring. 



Asparagus is a well-kno-(vn and delicious vegetable ; it is 

 raised from seed, which may be sown in fall or early spring. 

 The plants at one or two years old are transplanted into beds 

 at one foot apart each way, or, if cultivated upon a large scale, 

 into rows at three feet distance, so as to admit the plow, the 



