226 



THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



RHUBARB or Pieplant (Rheum Rhaponticum) is 

 grown for its leaf-stalks, used in desserts, pies, and 

 wine. It is a perennial plant, usually propagated 

 by root-divisions, as the seeds seldom give good results. 

 " Not more than fifteen per cent can be counted on to 

 be true to the varietal type. " (Cyclopedia of American 

 Horticulture.) Rhubarb should have its place in every 



Fig. 111. Rhubarb seedlings. Two-thirds natural size. 



home garden ; six plants are enough for the ordinary 

 family, and if the roots are well fed and occasionally 

 pruned or reset they will yield for twenty years or 

 more. Rhubarb will stand considerable neglect, bat 

 for good results requires high feeding with manure as 

 well as with fertilizers. It is usually mulched in the 

 fall with manure, in the northern states, for an early 

 start, since it is chiefly prized for its earliness. In the 

 spring the fine part of the manure may be forked into 



