CHINESE ARTICHOKE 
The Chinese Artichoke — or Stachys tuherifera — is a 
hardy tuberous-rooted perennial, and though a small 
root is a welcome addition to the winter vegetables. It 
is not always well grown'; and on this account is not 
always made the best use of, as unless given good 
culture the plant gives much smaller tubers and is 
of much less value. The culture is most simple. 
The plant, though small, should not be crowded, 
and it does best in a well-drained, well-enriched free 
working soil, and the plant to get large tubers should 
never be allowed to suffer from drought in the growing 
season. It differs much from the older forms of Arti- 
choke, as the plant rarely exceeds l8 inches in height; 
and this shows that a wide space is not needed between 
the rows — 18 inches will suffice, and 6 to 9 inches in the 
row ; the growth being weakly a well-worked or fine 
surface soil is necessary. In heavy clay soils I have 
made such soil suitable by having raised beds, making 
the top soil lighter by liberal additions of burnt garden 
refuse, old fine mortar rubble, and any old potting or leaf 
soil, the tubers when planted being covered with the 
light material. Planting is done early in the spring just 
before growth commences, and it is a good plan to draw 
drills 6 inches deep and place the small tubers in 
position at the distances advised above. When the 
tubers are forming freely, say in July and August, it will 
be found of great advantage to give liquid manure or 
flood the quarter, using a quick acting fertiliser if liquid 
manure is not at hand. Another important point is to 
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