KITCHEN-GARDENING. 125 



crowns of the plants. If there be any danger of water lodging, 

 make trenches to carry it off. The beds should be stripped of 

 their covering, and the ground well hoed and cleared of weeds. 

 The roots of the Palmatum must not be taken up until six 

 or seven years old. The stalks of the other kind may be cut 

 every spring, as soon as the leaves are expanded. 



If Rhubarb stalks be required for use early in spring, they 

 may be obtained by placing flour barrels or deep tubs over 

 some of the plants, and covering them up with fresh stable- 

 dung, or by any of the methods pointed out in the article un- 

 der the head of Forcing Vegetables. The stalks of this plant 

 are used for pies and tarts. After being stripped of the skin, 

 or outer covering, and divested of the small fibres, or stringi- 

 ness to which the plant is liable in an advanced stage of 

 growth, the stalk should be cut transversely into very small 

 pieces, and then parboiled with sugar, and such spices as best 

 suit the palate. Rhubarb may be kept in this way as well as 

 other preserves, and may be used not only in pies and tarts, 

 but will make an excellent pudding, which is done by flatten- 

 ing a suety crust with a rolling-pin, then spreading on the 

 fruit, rolling it up in an oval shape, and boiling it in a cloth. 

 Prepared in this way, the fruit retains its virtues, and the pud- 

 ding may be served up hot, in slices from half an inch to an 

 inch thick, with butter and sugar spread between the layers. 

 Some boil the stalks to a juice, which being strained through 

 a colander, will keep for years if well spiced and seasoned with 

 sugar. 



After the roots have been well washed, and the small fibres 

 cut off, they are to be cut transversely into pieces about two 

 inches thick, and dried on boards, turning them several times 

 a day, in order to prevent the escape of the yellow juice, on 

 which its medicinal qualities depend. In four or five days the 

 pieces may be strung upon strings, and suspended in a shady 

 but airy and dry situation, and iu two months afterwards will 

 be fit to dry. 



