188 



THE AMERICAN NATURALIST 



[Vol. LIII 



THE VARIETIES OF HELIANTHUS TUBEROSUS 



The ^irasole. Jerusalem articlioke or sviiiroot. IleliantJuts 

 tuherosus of Linnams. lias been m cultivation more than three 

 hundred vears. It is native in North America, and its tubers 

 were weW known as a source of food to the Indians in pre- 

 Columbian times. In spite of its lon<? history and value as a 

 ''root-crop." this plant has received little attention from breed- 

 ers in modern times, and it still remains to be seen what may 

 be done with it, with intensive study and improved methods. 

 At the present time we can say that it is enormously prolific, 

 and the tubers are excellent food for man and beast. Recent 

 experiments indicate that thev may be an important source of 

 su^rar in the form of syrup. The very lar^e tops can be used 

 as fodder. For these and other reasons it is desirable to inves- 

 tijrate the existmp: varieties, and place on record their principal 

 charficteristies. This vear. m Boulder. Colorado. I have grown 

 all those listed below, exeeptinp; the first: 



figured by I'abius Cohuniia iii his a.-.-ount of. littU'-known ;unl rare plants, 

 published in 1610. This fijrm. is ,lt<.l hv l.]um'u<. \t is labelled Flos 



