THE SOUTHERN PLANTER; 



Heboteti to &flrfctfltttre t ©ovtCcuiturc, nvto the ^ouseftolti em. 



Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. I Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts of the 



Xenophon. | State. — Sully. 



C. T. BOTTS «fc L. M. BUR FOOT 5 Editors. 



Vol. III. RICHMOND, 



JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE — (Heleanthus Tuberosus.) 



We know several judicious farmers that place 

 a very high estimate upon this neglected vege- 

 table. We observe that M. Boussingaut, of 

 France, by actual analysis, has arrived at the 

 conclusion, that in consequence of its powers of 

 extracting carbon and nitrogen from the air, the 

 Jerusalem artichoke is entitled to all the atten- 

 tion that it is now commanding in the best cul- 

 tivated parts of France. We, therefore, extract 

 the following directions for its cultivation from 

 that excellent paper, the "Nashville Agricul- 

 turist : 



"From the fact, that many inquiries have 

 been made of late in relation to this very re- 

 markable and useful plant, I am disposed to 

 speak a few things of its culture and uses. — 

 The Jerusalem artichoke is a native of the 

 warmer parts of America, and of course was 

 unknown in Europe till after the discoveries in 

 this country by Columbus and his coadjutors. 

 Since that time it has been cultivated to consi- 

 derable extent on the continent as well as in 

 Great Britain, but. the reports of its profits have 

 considerably varied, in that, as well as this 

 country. In the old world some have cultivated 

 it to afford shade to the game ; others have con- 

 verted the stocks and leaves into fodder for cattle, 

 and others again, have encouraged its growth 

 for the tubers alone. In this country there are 

 two important objects to be kept in mind in rais- 

 ing artichokes ; 1st. The improvement of land ; 

 2dly. The use of the tubers. However, the 

 first matter is the cultivation, and I begin with 



"I. Soil. — Almost any kind of land will pro- 

 duce artichokes, and it is remarkable, that they 

 will grow in the shade, that is, under trees, or 

 in fence corners very well indeed. Land, how- 

 ever, with a tolerably good sandy mould will 

 give the most abundant crop. Low, wet soils, 

 and very tenacious clay are not so suitable. 



2. Preparation of Land. — The ground should 

 be broken as for corn, that is to say, one good, 

 deep ploughing, and a thorough harrowing will 

 answer the purpose admirably. 



"3. Laying Out. — Rows laid off four feet 

 each way with a bull's tongue or shovel plough, 

 in most soils, will be the proper distance. 



" 4. Quantity of Seed. — From four to five 

 Vol. III.- 10 



APRIL, 1843. No. 4. 



bushels will be required to the acre, and unless 

 the long roots are broken to pieces of three or 

 four joints, or eyes each, this quantity will not 

 be enough. 



i 5. Manner of Planting. — Drop one root at 

 each cross of the plough and cover from one to 

 two or three inches with a harrow, hoe, or plough. 



11 6. Cultivation. — So soon as the young plants 

 appear^ run round them, with a cultivator, har- 

 row or light plough to destroy the young weeds, 

 and loosen the earth. Keep the ground free of 

 weeds and open to the influence of the atmos- 

 phere, till the plants are about three feet high, 

 when they should be laid by, by the use of a 

 cultivator ; or in the absence of a cultivator, 

 and when the land has been ploughed, the har- 

 row should pass both ways to leave the ground 

 loose and the surface level. Generally, about 

 the same cultivation given to corn will answer 

 well for artichokes. 



" 7. Digging. — This is the most troublesome 

 job in the management of this crop; and if the 

 hoe is the dependance, the labor will be very 

 tedious. The better plan, is to lay off a land 

 as for breaking up the ground, so soon as the 

 frost has killed the under leaves of the stocks. 

 The plough should run from six to nine inches 

 deep and let the hands, big and little, pass di- 

 rectly after the plough, to pick up, that none of 

 the roots ma}' be covered by the next furrow. 



" 8. Yield. — The produce to the acre is va- 

 riously estimated from five hundred to one thou- 

 sand bushels, and it is probable the turn out on 

 medium land would be nearer the latter than 

 the former. 



" 9. Uses. — In England and other parts of 

 Europe, the tubers have been considered quite 

 a delicacy for man, and without doubt they 

 make the most beautiful pickle. But their chief 

 importance, in this respect, is iheir use in feeding 

 hogs. From the middle of October to the mid- 

 dle of November, the hogs may be turned on 

 ihe artichokes, and with salt alwa} r s in troughs 

 to which they can have access, they will grow 

 and thrive till next spring, particularly, if the 

 ground is not too hard for rooting. I have not 

 experimented to ascertain the quantity of hogs 

 to the acre of good artichokes ; but from the 

 observation of two seasons, I am of the opinion 

 twenty head will do well on an acre for months. 

 As some have complained their hogs would not 

 root after them, it may be necessary, as hogs, 



