Artichokes are really more nourishing than potatoes, and the improved varieties may be used in place of potatoes. The plant is perfectly hardy, being native to the Northern States and Canada, and will take care of itself when once started, although it is better for having its roots divided, by digging them up. It will run wild, if wholly neglected, and become a troublesome weed, propagating itself indefinitely by means of its straggling, far-reaching, tuber-bearing roots. The only way to cure this damage is by thorough tillage, the first of which consists of fall plowing and the turning of pigs into the patch to root up the tubers. The artichoke is more prolific than the potato, and will yield all the way from 250 bushels to 1000 bushels per acre with only ordinary care. For eating, the best variety is the Improved White French. The Jerusalem artichoke is not likely soon to supplant any other garden crop in this country, but it might well become a regular garden crop, as it will grow on land too poor for most other plants, requires little care, yields heavily, and is good food for man and stock. SEA-KALE. Sea-kale is one of the least known of the perennial garden crops, although where it is known it is well liked. It is a low, fleshy-stemmed plant whose shoots and young leaves are blanched and eaten as asparagus is. The plants may be grown from seed; in which case all but one main stem are to be cut off as soon as they appear; or it may be grown by division of roots. In either case, it is well not to cut from the plant until the second season. The shoots are blanched either by covering the crowns with fine, loose soil for a foot or even more, in the early spring, or by covering the crowns with a box and allowing the shoots to grow up in the dark. After the young shoots have been picked off, the plants are allowed to grow as they will; for, like asparagus and rhubarb, the vigor, size and yield of the next season depend upon this season’s growth of leaf and root. It flourishes best in deep, rich and rather moist soil. The plants should not be less than three feet apart each way, and they are much benefited by an autumn dressing of light manure or straw. FOOTNOTES: [9] NOTE.—You can get long stalks in the garden by putting a small cask, or half-barrel, with the ends knocked out, over the plant. The stalks will grow to the top and blanch some while growing. CHAPTER XXV. SPECIALTIES. It is well to grow a variety of crops for your own experience and your own table. But for profit, it is best to specialize, because if you read up all you should know about several crops, you will have no time to raise them.