CHAP, xvu VILLA GARDENING 463 



plan to mulch between the plants with long litter as soon as they 

 get nicely into growth. They derive a good deal of benefit from 

 mulching, and it keeps the fruit clean. 



Varieties. — For ordinaiy use the long white Marrow, cut when 

 quite young, will supply every need. Other varieties are the 

 Custard, Shirley Hibberd's Prolific Early, Muir's Hybrid, and 

 Moore's Cream. Hibberd's Early and Muir's Hybrid are both 

 good. 



CHAPTER XVII 



Rhubarb. — This has become a valuable plant, and scarcely any- 

 thing pays better for good culture. It likes moisture, and on 

 very poor porous soils, unless well fed, the stalks do not attain 

 a very large size. The ground cannot easily be made too rich ; 

 and, as the plants will occupy the same ground several years, 

 it should be well done before the roots are planted. Early in the 

 month of March is 



The Best Time to Plant, just as growth is beginning 

 to move. The intended site should be maniu-ed and trenched 

 or ridged early in -winter, and forked over again in February to get 

 the land into a nice, warm, friable condition. The sets may either 

 be single eyes or pieces of root containing several eyes or buds. 

 The crowns shoidd be divided with a sharp spade, and the pieces 

 planted in rows 4 feet apart each way ; but the plants should not 

 stand ojjposite each other. The Victoria should be planted 5 feet 

 apart each way, as the growth of that variety is large and spreading. 

 Rhubarb, like many of the so-called permanent crops, is frequently 

 left too long on the same ground. To have really fine Rhubarb 

 the plants should not remain longer on the same spot than from 

 six to eight years, and by the removal of the Rhubarb plantation 

 occasionally more space will be available for the rotation of other 

 crops. If left too long on one spot it deteriorates, and not only do 

 the stalks get weaker, but the whole plant loses strength and force. 

 When that condition is reached it will take more than one year of 

 good cultiu-e to restore vigour. Rhubarb repays well for 



Liquid Manure, which may be given any time. A good soak- 

 ing after pulling has ceased will be a great help in giving strength 

 to the crowns for the next year. Mulching is of great use also ; if 

 put on early in the season it will hasten the gi'owth, and as it 

 decays later on it will nom'ish the roots. No one cares much for 

 Rhubarb puddings or tarts after Gooseberries come in ; but veiy often 

 there is a demand for Rhubarb then for wine-making, and it makes 



