FORCING RHUBARB. 175 



under different conditions ; that is, from housed and 

 small roots, with too much dry heat, &c. 



RHUBARB. 



The same plan may be adopted in forcing Ehu- 

 barb, for this, like Sea-kale, will not bear a very 

 strong and dry heat ; covering it precisely in the same 

 manner as for Sea-kale will be found to answer best. 

 The roots should be three- or four-year-old well-esta- 

 blished plants. Before covering up the pots contain- 

 ing the crown, give the whole of the ground a soaking 

 with guano and soot ; put, say, two pounds of guano in 

 a tub holding twenty gallons of water, and add five or 

 six pounds of soot, then stir it well, and water the 

 ground where the roots are. This will induce the 

 crowns to break very strong. About the beginning of 

 the month of December, Ehubarb may be set to work. 

 It is a plant of hardy constitution, and may be handled 

 roughly, but good roots are often sacrificed by driving 

 them too sharp when they are subjected to a strong 

 dry heat. 



If Ehubarb is forced in the same way as Sea-kale, 

 much finer stuff will be had, and no sacrifice made as 

 regards the roots. When it is forced otherwise they 

 should be strong, for only poor thin stuff is got from 

 small roots. Ehubarb should be taken up and re- 

 planted every four or five years, for if you want to 

 prevent it from running to seed, the roots must be re- 

 planted about those periods. The best time to do this 

 is in the month of October. Turn out the whole root, 

 divide it into single crowns, trim off the lacerated 

 roots to a solid part, and then replant them. 



