ARTICHOKE. 
13 
But even this mode of treatment is not free from objection. for, first, the 
direct application of the dung to the plant will always alter its flavor, and 
very much degrade it; and, again, the capriciousness of the weather does 
not generally give either warning of its changes, or time to accommodate 
ourselves to them ; they often take place in the night, and often (whether 
in the night or in the day) under circumstances which prevent us from 
giving the plant the additional covering it may require. Two other methods, 
therefore, not dissimilar in themselves, have been suggested—the one to 
employ hollow cylinders of earthenware, covered with a tile or piece of 
slate, and of capacity sufficient to embrace the plant; the other to form caps 
of straw (such as are used for lodging bees\ and having a movable top of 
the same material. To the last method we see no room for objection; in 
application it is easy, requiring no skill and but little labor, while the mate¬ 
rial and workmanship are both cheap and durable, and their property of ex¬ 
cluding rain, snow and frost not to be doubted.” 
Spring dressing.— u In spring, the litter and earth being removed in March 
or April (April or May in this country), according to the season, the stocks 
are examined; and two or three of the strongest or best shoots being se¬ 
lected for growing, tbe rest are removed by pressure with the thumb, or by 
a knife or wooden chisel. These shoots, or suckers, are used for new plan¬ 
tations. Dig the whole ground level, loosening it to the crown of the roots 
of every plant.”— Loudon. 
Duration of the plants .— u Artichoke plants continue productive for several 
years; but, every season, some well rotted dung, or fresh sea-weed, should 
be delved into the ground at the winter dressing. It is certain, however, 
that after a few years the plants begin to degenerate, the heads becoming 
smaller and less succulent. It is therefore a general rule not to keep an 
artichoke plantation beyond four or, at most, six years. Scarcely any kind 
of grub or wire-worm ever touches the roots of artichokes; they form, 
therefore, an excellent preparative for a crop of onkns, shallot or garlic. In 
many gardens, a small new plantation is formed every year; and in this way 
the artichoke season, which begins in June, is prolonged till November; 
those from the old stock continuing till August, when those from the new 
stocks come in. If the last gathered be cut with the stems at full length 
and if these be stuck among moist sand, the heads may be preserved a month 
longer. 
Seed .— 44 The heads, when suffered to remain ten days or a fortnight aftei 
the season of cutting, expand the calix leaves, and display an aggregation 
of jagged purple florets, producing a fine appearance. When ripe seed is 
wanted, those heads in flower are to be bent down, and retained in that 
position, so that the calix may throw off the autumnal rains. In general, 
however, the seed is not perfected in our [the British] climate.”— Loudon. 
Armstrong says. 4; Every gardener who understands his trade w ; ll take o r* 
