IRRIGATION OF THK GARDEN. 275 



year. This is to allow the roots to form new buds for 

 another season's crop. Generally the plants will start 

 in spring after raking off the mulch without irrigating, 

 but as soon as the ground becomes well warmed the 

 water should be applied in rills for three or four hours 

 and continued weekly thereafter throughout the cut- 

 ting season, with a good terminating wetting shortly 

 after the first of August to aid in the formation of 

 buds. When the ground is frozen a coat of coarse 

 stable manure should be applied to prevent frost from 

 penetrating too deeply, thereby securing somewhat 

 earlier cutting in spring. The roots should be divided 

 every three or four years. Rhubarb pays best in early 

 spring, and accordingly many gardeners are forcing it 

 under glass. Some dig up the roots in fall and plant 

 under greenhouse benches, while others plant roots in 

 hotbeds or cold frames, but perhaps the best method 

 is to plant roots eighteen inches apart each way, and 

 in strips of four rows, so as to allow of a six-foot 

 frame being placed over them. These beds must be 

 heavily mulched to keep from freezing, when on or 

 about the middle of February hotbed sash can be 

 placed over the frame and the bed handled as a cold 

 frame. 



Roses. — A rosebush needs water. Watering once 

 a month will never produce an abundant crop of rose 

 petals. The bushes seldom get more water than is 

 good for their digestion. A garden hose thrust near 

 a bush and the water allowed to flow freely for an 

 hour or two every day will furnish enough moisture 

 for the roots. Of course, when the delicate young 

 plant is first set out this generous way of giving the 



