VEGETABLES — RHUBARB. 201 



aero. It may be safe to say, however, that it will average, 

 in this vicinity, a profit of 8350 per acre annually, from the 

 date of planting; in many places, where there is less 

 competition, no doubt double or treble that amount may 

 be realized. Rhubarb is a most simple and convenient 

 plant for forcing, which may be done either by hooeing 

 the crowns, or inverting barrels over them in early spring, 

 say two or three weeks before the weather opens, and 

 covering the whole bed up to the depth of 3 feet, with 

 leaves or other heating material. Rhubarb requires no 

 light in forcing, the stalks being much more tender when 

 light is excluded. Another method is, to lift the roots in 

 a mass in the fall, and place them in a back shed or furnace 

 room ; such situations as are adapted for the forcing of 

 Mushrooms, will force Rhubarb ; the requirements being 

 moisture, and a temperature of from 45° to G0°. 



Forced Rhubarb always sells at highly remunerative 

 prices, and when there is a surplus of root?, and conveni- 

 ences for forcing, it. will pay handsomely. The varieties 

 mainly cultivated are : 



Linnaeus. — This is the variety mainly grown by the 

 market gardeners for an early crop ; it is also very pro- 

 ductive, of excellent spicy flavor, being the least acid of 

 all the varieties. It is small, however, and is superseded 

 by the larger but later sorts as soon as they appear. 



Victoria. — This sort is also largely grown for markets, 

 but mainly on lands that are not early ; its great size and 

 consequent weight of crop, compensating for its lateness. 

 It is therefore recommended for heavy late lands, and the 

 preceding variety for light and early soils. 



Cahoon. — This variety is particularlv abundant of juice, 

 9* 



