REPORT OF MR S. A. BEDFORD 431 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Owing to the comparatively trifling production of fruit in Manitoba and the high 

 prices charged for the imported product, rhubarb occupies a prominent position in the 

 Manitoba housekeeper's supply of preserves. Fortunately, rhubarb seems to be 

 specially adapted to the Manitoba climate, and with even a moderate amount of culti- 

 vation will respond freely. 



It is always desirable, if possible, to plant in considerable quantity, so that some 

 of the roots may be available for spring forcing. These should be lifted just before 

 freezing up, placed in barrels in the cellar and covered with sand. Water should then 

 be given from time to time as required, and in a short time tender and juicy shoots 

 will be produced, which, coming in mid-winter, are a very desirable addition to the 

 table. The forced roots should be planted outside the following spring, and allowed 

 one year to recuperate before pulling. The following descriptive notes were taken 

 during the growing season, and to secure the weights an average plant of each variety 

 was stripped on June 27. 



Early Scarlet — A fairly vigorous grower ; colour bright cherry red throughout ; 

 deeply ribbed on under side of stalk ; very tender and juicy ; average length of stalk, 

 18 inches ; weight from one plant, 13 pounds. 



Early Prince. — A fairly vigorous grower ; colour green, heavily mottled with light 

 red ; slightly ribbed on under side ; very tender and juicy ; average length of stalk, 22 

 inches ; weight from one plant, 24 pounds. 



Songster's Prince of IFa/es.— A very vigorous grower ; colour brilliant red 

 throughout, no green ; stalk slightly indented on upper side and ribbed on under side ; 

 very tender and juicy ; average length of stalk is 22 inches ; weight from one plant, 20 

 pounds. A very fine variety. 



Tobolsk. — A vigorous grower ; colour a mottled red ; slightly ribbed on under 

 side ; deeper colour than No. 2 ; very tender ; upper side nearly flat ; average length 

 of stalk, 22 inches ; weight from one plant, 25 pounds. 



Paragon. — A fairly vigorous grower, of a mottled deep red colour ; ribs on under 

 side well denned, and deep indentation on upper side ; only fairly tender ; average 

 length of stalk, 16 inches ; weight from one plant, 10£ pounds. 



Prince Albert. — A vigorous grower ; heavily mottled with deep red ; slightly 

 ribbed on under side ; nearly flat on upper side ; very tender and juicy ; average length 

 of stalk, 24 inches ; weight from one plant, 31£ pounds. 



Magnum Bonum. — A vigorous grower ; of a light red mottled colour ; slightly 

 ribbed on under side ; nearly flat on upper ; similar in appearance to No. 6, though 

 not so deep in colour ; very tender and juicy ; average length of stalk, 20 inches ; 

 weight from one plant, 27 pounds. 



Brabant's Colossal. — A very vigorous grower ; of a light red mottled colour ; 

 nearly smooth on under side ; upper side nearly flat ; tender and juicy ; average length 

 of stalk, 26 inches ; weight from one plant, 30 pounds. 



Early Crimson. — An extremely vigorous grower ; lower half stalk mottled with 

 light red, upper half greenish ; heavily ribbed on under side, upper side indented ; 

 tender ; average length of stalk, 26 inches ; average weight from one plant, 30i pounds. 



Scarlet Nonpareil. — A very vigorous grower ; colour mottled with red ; moder- 

 ately ribbed on under side ; well marked indentations on the upper side ; tender and 

 juicy ; average length of stalk, 26 inches ; average weight from one plant, 26 pounds. 



General Taylor. — A moderate and very even grower, with very little variation in 

 size of stalk ; colour green throughout, sparsely mottled with very deep red ; tender 

 and juicy ; heavily ribbed on under side, indented on upper ; average length of stalk, 

 14 inches ; average weight of one plant, 16J pounds. 



Marshall's Pioyal Linnccus. — A vigorous grower ; colour mottled with light red ; 

 slightly ribbed on under side, nearly flat on upper side ; very tender ; average length 

 of stalk, 16 inches ; average weight of one plant, 26 pounds. 



