II 
“The outcome of a number of tests goes to show that, for fatten- 
ing purposes, these tubers must be given with grain, and have a 
similar result to feeding with ordinary potatoes ; 325 lbs. of wheat fed 
with 820 lbs. of artichokes gave too lbs. increase. The average com- 
position of the artichokes is shown here in contrast with the 
potato”: — 
[ Water. 
Ash. 
Protein. 
1 
Carbo 
hydrates. 
Fat. 
Nutritive 
Value. 
Artichoke 
79-5 
1.0 
I 
24 | 
16.7 
0.2 
1:7 
I : 8.6 
Potato 
78.9 
1.0 j 
2.1 
17.9 
0.1 
JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE. 
The culture of Jerusalem Artichokes ( Helianthus tuberosum) 
has long been neglected in the Malay Peninsula. It is difficult to 
imagine why this should be so as their cultivation is of the easiest. 
Beyond deep changkoling of the soil and the keeping down of weed?, 
little further attention is required. 
The tubers are used as a vegetable, sometimes as a dish but 
more usually for flavouring purposes. They are very popular with 
many Europeans, and as good vegetables are difficult to ootain, this 
plant ought to be more widely cultivated than it is at present. 
Plants will grow in almost any situation but the best results and 
largest tubers are obtained when they receive plenty of room and 
liberal treatment. Deeply changkol the soil and add to it a little 
well decayed cow manure about a fortnight before planting. Avoid 
using horse manure for various reasons. 
The roots or tubers are planted in rows 2 feet apart and it is 
often as well to shade the plants when the leafshoots first appear. 
The stems do not grow to the height they do in Europe but they 
usually produce flowers, which is the exception in England. When 
the plants are about four feet high (usually their full height) the 
leaves wither and die. It is then that the tubers are in an edible 
condition. 
When artichokes are grown as a vegetable for European 
consumption, it is not advisable to plant up a large area at once as 
the resultant tubers soon become discoloured and uneatable if lifted 
and stored, and if left in the ground for very long they would 
commence to sprout again. If a small bed is planted with tubers at 
the above mentioned distances and three weeks are allowed to elapse 
between each successive planting, a continuous supply of fresh 
tubers can be obtained. It usually takes from three months from 
the time the tubers are planted until the next crop is available. 
The plant is really a Canadian sun flower. 
J. W. A. 
