122 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



BHUBARB. 



HIS wholesome and agreeable vegetable has become so 

 popular as a substitute for fruit in the early spring, that 

 no garden should be without it. It will grow anywhere, 

 is so hardy that no frosts will injure the roots, however 

 much exposed, and is so prolific that a few plants will 

 yield a plentiful supply of stalks for a large family. Yet notwith- 

 standing the ease with which it is cultivated, we often see it badly 

 grown, and sometimes hear the complaint that parties have failed iu 

 their efforts to get a crop. Our remarks will obviate every objection, 

 if attended to, and enable our readers to grow rhubarb for themselves 

 with ease and success. Rhubarb has a hard underground stem, 

 which pushes forth buds plentifully at the crown, or part nearest the 

 surface ; every one of these buds taken off with a portion of root 

 adhering to it, will form a large plant in one season. If you wish to 

 make a plantation now (although the season is rather too far 

 advanced, it may still be done), get as many buds or crowns as your 

 bed will admit of, allowing each two or three feet every way, accord- 

 ing to the habit of the varieties you prefer. The plan generally 

 adopted is to purchase as many roots as are necessary to fill the 

 allotted space, but this is a more expensive and far less eligible method 

 than the one now recommended. Last year a new sort of rhubarb 

 was offered in the neighbourhood of the writer at five shillings a 

 plant. Some of his friends purchased four or five roots, but he was 

 satisfied with one. On receiving it he placed it in a hole, and covered 

 it up with soil until February, when, on examination, five good buds 

 were developed. The root was then divided into five parts, each of 

 which, at the present time, is a large, flourishing plant, equal to any 

 of those which were not divided. A bed was thus obtained for five 

 shillings, equal, indeed superior, to some costing twenty-five shillings. 

 We are convinced, from actual experiment, that rhubarb may be 

 brought to perfection in one year ; that old beds are inferior to new 

 ones ; and that fresh plantations should be made every year. The 

 old plan of making a bed to descend to posterity should be exploded, 

 in reference to many garden productions. Strawberries, raspberries, 

 rhubarb, etc., etc., should be removed often, if fine healthy produce 

 is wished for. 



Having a sufficient number of buds or crowns, let them be 

 planted in a well-trenched and manured soil. If the leaves are 

 developed, care must be taken to prevent their flagging. This may 

 be done by placing over them some long litter, sufficient to answer 

 the purpose without excluding light and air. The young plants 

 will soon be established, and will grow rapidly. No leaves must be 

 taken off the first year, as the object is to convey all the elaborated 

 sap possible to the stem for future use. If the ground is good, and 

 kept free from weeds, no more care is required, and abundance of 

 fine stalks can be taken off next spring. An exposed situation, with 

 plenty of sun and air, will of course bring this production to greatest 

 perfection ; but it will produce good crops without having these 

 advantages fully. Every house with a garden, however small, may 



