PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 71 



melon hills, or between them, also between rows of corn, &c,, thus 

 takinof no ijroimd for themselves alone. Sow each fortnii^ht from 

 the first of April till August, on warm, light soil, the newer the 

 better, covering half inch deep, and thin to two incbes. Our pre- 

 ference is for the Olive-shaped, or Half Long Red — next to that the 

 Long Scarlet. 



R]iuharh is best grown along the ])order of the garden or in 

 rows through the center, three feet apart. Ten to twelve roots 

 will furnish a good family supply. The soil can scarcely be too 

 rich for rhubarb. Set roots or single crowns of Linnaeus or Vic- 

 toria from the 1st to 10th of April, covering two inches deep. 

 When established, the stock is easily increased by cutting off a 

 few crowns from each plant, with a spade. No garden is complete 

 without its rhubarb. Keep the blossom buds picked off to induce 

 stalks, and in pulling draw /v'om the center, so as not to injure the 

 crown. Beside being rich the ground should be deeply and finely 

 dug about the roots, using care not to unduly mutilate them. 



Sahafy and Scorzonera, or W7nte and Black Oyster Plant. — 

 These vegetables are more highly esteemed the more they are 

 known. Though not up to the bivalve, they form a very good 

 vegetable substitute. Sow from the middle of April until May 

 15th, on deeply worked rich soil, in rows one foot apart, covering 

 half an inch. Thin to three inches and keep well hoed. The roots 

 are best in the spring after standing in the ground during the 

 winter, the same as parsnip?. Bury a few in earth in the cellar 

 for use when the ground is frozen. The black variety, or Scorzo- 

 nera is most prized by Germans. 



Sjpmach makes the very best, as well as earliest spring "greens." 

 It endures the winter with a slight covering of straw or other lit- 

 ter, and on this account the early crop is sown from the first to the 

 middle of September, in rows ten to twelve inches apart, half an 

 inch deep, thinning to four inches before winter sets in. The sur- 

 plus plants may be used late in the fell, and the remainder maybe 

 imcovered and used during toe winter if desirable. A thin cover- 

 ins: of straw is better than a thick coverinc;, which smothers the 

 plants. Uncover as soon as hard freezings are over in the spring, 

 and when of sufficient size pick off the leaves, and others will soon 

 appear to keep up the supply. It may be sown in spring, at inter- 

 vals of a fortnight, from the middle of March until the middle of 

 July. The round-seeded is best for spring sowing. The prickly 

 is recommended for standing the winter best, but we find no 



