The Jerusalem artichoke affords a plentiful supply of winter food for
sheep and cattle, and is highly serviceable in situations where, owing to
the unfitness of the soil, or a deficiency of manure, turnips, carrots,
mangold wortzel, or potatoes, can be cultivated only to a small extent.
Mr Morewood, in the “History of Inebriating Liquors,” p. 399, thus treats
of the advantages attending its cultivation:--“In some parts of the north
of France the root of the Jerusalem artichoke (_Helianthus tuberosus_)
has been introduced for the purpose of distillation. The wash from this
vegetable is found to yield a very pure strong spirit, which resembles
that obtained from the grape more than any substitute that has hitherto
been tried. As the root grows readily in Great Britain, and might be
cultivated abundantly, it would be well to try the experiment here, as we
have no medium spirit between genuine French brandy and the fiery produce
of grain sold under the denominations of gin and whisky. In Ireland
the cultivation of this plant would be attended with great advantage,
since it thrives well in a boggy soil; and in a country like it, where
there are so many unreclaimed and waste lands, its culture would be a
profitable speculation, for while the roots would afford a fine material
for distillation, the tops would yield more fodder than the same space of
ground, if sown with ordinary grain.”
In Scotland this plant is only to be found in the gardens, the
agriculturists of that country being, it would seem, as yet unacquainted
with its value as a fodder. According to Mr Tighe, in the “Survey of
Kilkenny,” p. 342, it has been partially introduced into that county. He
says, “The Jerusalem artichoke has been tried as a food for sheep by the
Rev. Dr Butler; he found them very fond of the roots, which agreed well
with them; the quantity produced in ground without manure was calculated
to be at the rate of one hundred barrels per acre (a barrel is five
bushels or twenty stones). Being very hardy plants, they will thrive in a
poor soil without any manure, and are extremely productive: pigs may be
fed with them as well as sheep; and as horses are said to be fond of the
tops, it is surprising that their use in agriculture has not been more
general. One advantage attends their cultivation--they are not liable to
be stolen like turnips, cabbage, young rape, and similar plants; they are
not with more difficulty extirpated from ground than potatoes, though
this had been objected to them, and will perish soon when the field is
laid down with grass.”