VEGETABLE GAEDENING 69 



EHUBARB IN WINTER 



If rhubarb roots are dug about the first of De- 

 cember, or a little earlier, left exposed to freez- 

 ing for a couple of weeks, and then placed in suit- 

 able boxes and removed to a warm cellar, they 

 will push up beautiful red stems that are splendid 

 for stews or pies. The clumps must be at least 

 three years old, and they must be allowed to 

 freeze hard before they are put in the cellar. If 

 the clumps are too large for handling, they may 

 be divided with a sharp spade, but divisions 

 should not be made too small. Soil, sand, or com- 

 post should be packed around the roots, and the 

 box should be deep enough to hold compost suf- 

 ficient to cover all parts of the plant. Water 

 moderately, but frequently. Light is not essen- 

 tial, as they seem to do best in partial darkness. 



After gathering the stems until spring, the 

 clumps may as well be thrown away, as they are 

 exhausted, and are worthless for planting again. 



A gain of two or three weeks in earliness may 

 be made with rhubarb, out-of-doors, right where 

 the clumps grow, without digging, by placing bar- 

 rels without heads over the clumps. Pack stable 

 manure close about and between the barrels, but 

 on the outside, about eight inches deep. Treated 

 in this way, the clumps are not injured in any 

 way, and may be left standing from year to year. 



SALSIFY, OR OYSTER PLANT 



Salsify does best on " Modified " Sandwich 

 Beds. Sprout the seed same as parsnips. Sow 

 early in April in rows eighteen inches apart, and 

 three inches in row. Cover one inch. 



