88 THE BOOK OF RARER VEGETABLES 



division just before growth is active in the early spring ; 

 each portion of root detached from the plant should have 

 a crown or bud and the roots should be placed below the 

 surface, so that the crown is quite covered. One good 



sized plant will make a 

 number of roots when 

 carefully divided, and 

 these should be made firm 

 at the planting by tread- 

 ing during the work, 

 when the soil is in suit- 

 able condition. No stalks 

 should be taken the first 

 year, and in dry weather 

 supplies of food in the 

 shape of liquid manure 

 would be well repaid. 

 In all gardens of any size 

 it is advantageous to 

 make new quarters every 

 two or three years, and 

 many growers force the 

 older roots, but I find 



{Ore-seventh natural size) much better results Will 



follow if two or three 



year old roots are forced ; the leaf-stalks, though 

 less numerous, are much stronger, and that is a great 

 gain. In planting, ample space should be given the 

 plant, at least 3 feet between, and 4 feet between 

 the rows, and in the late spring and early summer 

 the seed stems must be cut as soon as they appear ; 

 but some of the newer kinds, such as the Sutton 

 Rhubarb, bear very little seed and this is an advantage. 

 Few plants force more readily, and this usually com- 

 mences in November and is continued up to the time 

 the open ground crop is ready. The old plan of covering 



RHUBARB STALKS 



