402 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



sown fairly thickly on well-manured ground out of doors at any 

 time from early March. When the early growth shows through 

 the ground some protection, such as rope or wire netting, should 

 be afforded against birds. The radish should be pulled young, 

 before it has had time to become rank or hot in flavour. Fort- 

 nightly sowings may be made until July. 



RHUBARB. The simplest method of making a rhubarb bed is 

 to obtain divided plants from the nurseryman during November. 

 The crowns, as they are called, should be planted not less than 

 two feet apart in well manured soil, and be allowed to grow on 

 naturally for a full year before any sticks are pulled. In the second 

 spring after planting, the stems will be plump and strong and will 

 provide constant supplies from March to the end of May. An 

 earlier supply than could be obtained in the ordinary way may be 

 secured by the adoption of the simple device illustrated in Diagram 

 76. This is the use of a few drain-pipes or tubs. If these be 

 placed over the roots, long and ripe sticks of rhubarb can be pro- 

 duced in about three weeks. 



If there be room under the greenhouse staging this space can be 

 used to good advantage. A disused orange-box half filled with 

 rich soil will form an excellent receptacle for the roots, which should 

 have a top covering of strawy litter. The top of the box can be 

 covered with the lid, and with the further object of excluding the 

 light and retaining the heat thrown out by the hot-water pipes 

 a length of matting can be hung from the bench to the floor. 

 Careful attention will, of course, have to be given to watering. 

 It is essential that the soil in the boxes be kept nicely moist, and 

 for this purpose it is best to use only tepid water. 



SEAKALE. The tender blanched stalks of seakale invariably 

 form a welcome addition to the dinner-table when other vegetables 

 are scarce and dear. Seakale can, of course, be grown from seed, 

 but as a rule, unless exceptional methods of cultivation be adopted, 

 two years elapse before the plants are fit for forcing. The vege- 

 table is, therefore, most frequently propagated by means of root 

 cuttings. These are on the market in December and can readily 

 be obtained from any nurseryman. 



