72 PICTORIAL FRAGTIOAL VEGETABLE GROWING. 



Cbapur 8 — flrttcl)okes» 



In the Jerusalem and Globe Artichokes we have two vegetables that 

 are comparatively little grown in small gardens. The latter is 

 certainly not worth the amount of space it demands to the cottager 

 or small-garden amateur. It is more or less of a luxury, and there is 

 perhaps a certain amount of justification for the remark that eating 

 Globe Artichokes is with most people merely an excuse for eating 

 butter. The Jerusalem Artichoke is more serviceable, but it also 

 requires space. 



The Chinese Artichoke, Stachys tuberifera, came into prominence 

 a few years ago. The tubers average 2 to 3 inches in length, and are 

 spirally corrugated. They are agreeable in flavour, and, as the plant 

 crops well, and does not make extravagant demands on space, there 

 is no reason why it should not be grown if fancy dictates. At the 

 same time, it would be idle to aver that this vegetable is of any real 

 garden importance. The tubers may be planted 9 inches apart, in 

 rows 2 feet asunder, in spring, and lifted in autumn. 



Tastes differ on the score of the Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus 

 tuberosus). Some like it, others express no partiality. It is a poor 

 vegetable when badly cooked, but by no means to be despised when 

 well served, and it makes a delicious soup. It contains no starch, 

 and will therefore never boil floury. 



The Jerusalem Artichoke resembles the Potato in liking a very 

 freely worked soil. Much dung is unnecessary, in fact disadvan- 

 tageous, inasmuch as it leads to coarseness, both in appearance and 

 flavour. The best tubers for planting are those about 2 oz. in 

 weight, and even in shape. They may be planted 6 inches deep in 

 March or April. I And the plant serviceable for a screen, with its 

 tall, Sunflower-like growth, and, in utilising it as such, plant the 

 tubers 1 foot apart in a single row, but if weight of crop was the only 

 consideration I should be disposed to give them more room. In bed 

 planting they should have 2 by 2^ feet. 



The most common mistake with this vegetable is to lift the tubers 

 early in autumn. The growth should be allowed to die away, or, if 

 heavy winds in autumn break the plants over, as they often will in 

 exposed places, cut the stems through a few inches above the soil, 

 clear away the top hamper, and leave the stools till midwinter or 

 later, lifting a few tubers as wanted for use. A peck to each hole is a 

 satisfactory crop, although ancient practitioners sometimes tell of 

 having lifted a bushel in the good old days ! 



The seedsman can generally supply planting tubers of Jerusalem 

 Artichokes, or failing him the local greengrocer. It is well, however, 

 to order early, for it is an odd fact that the demand for this little- 

 grown vegetable often exceeds the supply. The old red is a useful 

 sort, and the newer white very good in flavour. 



