lO* THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Mat, 



some water. This plantation, if kept clear from weeds, and 

 now and then watered in dry weather, will yield good arti- 

 chokes the following autumn, but will produce more abund- 

 antly next year in J une, July, and August. 



A small crop of lettuce, radishes, or spinach, may be sown 

 the first year, between the rows of the artichokes. 



A plantation of artichokes will produce good heads five 

 or six years, and often longer ; but it must be observed, that 

 if required to have a succession of this vegetable for four or 

 five months in the summer, a small plantation should be made 

 every spring ; for the old stocks, which have been planted a 

 5^ear or two, produce heads in June, July, and August; and 

 those planted now produce heads the same year, in August, 

 September, and October. 



SPRING-DRESSING ARTICHOKES. 



Make a general dressing of artichokes from the beginning to 

 the middle of this month. 



Where the earth has been trenched up, and laid over these 

 plants, to defend them fi'om frost, let it now be levelled down, 

 particularly if the plants have begun to shoot tolerably strong, 

 otherwise defer it till next month ; observing as you proceed 

 in levelling down, to dig and loosen all the ground about the 

 plants ; at the same time examine the number of shoots or 

 suckers springing from each stool or root, choosing two oj 

 three of the strongest on every stool to remain, and all above 

 that number to be taken off close with the hand. 



In performing this work, open the earth deep enough about 

 each stock or root, that you may more readily slip off the 

 superabundant shoots clean from the place whence they spring, 

 taking care, as above, to leave at least two or three good shoots, 

 but never more than three, upon each root or stock, closing 

 the earth in again round the root, and also about the young 

 plants, laying the ground close about them with the hand. 



The shoots which are slipped off, may be used to make fresh 

 plantations, where required; for artichokes are propagated 

 by planting the young shoots, and by no other method; and 

 this is the most proper season for that purpose. - 



