1528 



RHUBARB 



lings are likely to be of weak vitality. 



Not more than 



s'^er cent can be counted on to be fairly true to the 

 varietal type. In the writer's experiments 4 ounces of 

 seed was sown each season. The seed was selected from 

 ideal plants that had been propagated by division. 

 As to varieties, the writer has had best results with 

 Linnaeus and Victoria. S. H. LINTON. 



FORCING OF RHUBARB. -The forcing of Rhubarb has 

 now become quite a profitable industry in the vicinity 



of many of the large 

 cities. It may be forced 

 either in the field where 

 the roots are growing 

 or lifted and placed in 

 hotbeds, under green- 

 house benches or in 

 a dark cellar. See 

 Fig. 2113. 



Much the larger part 

 of the Rhubarb which 

 is offered for sale dur- 

 ing the winter months 

 is grown in rough forc- 

 ing houses which are 

 built over the plants 

 in the field. Fig. 2114. 

 These houses are sim- 

 ply and cheaply con- 

 structed, the sides usu- 

 ally being about five 

 feet high, of rough 

 boards, which are 

 covered with cheap 

 building paper. The roof is formed of hotbed sash. 

 These buildings are usually from 24 to 36 feet in 

 width and of any desired length. Artificial heat is 

 generally provided, steam being the most popular, 

 although the sun is at times depended upon to give 

 the required heat. The soil moisture is usually suffi- 

 cient, so that no water is given. Plants for forcing 

 should be set not more than two by three feet apart 

 and should be fertilized annually with liberal dressings 

 of compost, that made from cow and hog manure being 

 considered the best. The sash should be placed upon 

 the house during the first part of February, and may be 

 removed for use on hotbeds and coldframes in from 

 four to six weeks. The stalks are usually pulled twice, 

 the returns being from $1.25 to $2 per sash, depending 

 upon the season at which it is placed upon the market. 

 The cost of production is often greatly reduced by grow- 

 ing a crop of spinach or dandelions between the rows, 

 the price obtained for these fillers usually being suffi- 

 cient to pay for all cost of labor and maintenance. 



2113. Stalks of forced Rhubarb. 



The leaf -blades do not develop. 



RHUS 



the benches, all spaces between them should be filled 

 with soil to prevent evaporation. When the plants 

 start into growth they should be given an abun- 

 dance of moisture. When forced in this manner light is 

 not necessary; therefore any convenient place may be 

 used, provided the proper amount of heat and moisture 

 is supplied. If grown in the dark the development of 

 leaf is much less than in the light, while the color, in- 

 stead of being green, is usually a dark cherry-red, 

 which gives to the product a very attractive appear- 

 ance. The temperature may range from 45 to 75, 

 although the lower the temperature the larger the yield 

 and higher the quality of the product. The time re- 

 quired for bringing a crop to maturity under the benches 

 is about the same as that required for forcing in the 

 field. 



The method which is to be followed in the growing of 

 this crop for the winter market will depend largely 

 upon local conditions. When grown by any method 

 which requires the lifting of the roots, it must be 

 remembered that they are worthless after having pro- 

 duced a crop; therefore this method cannot be practiced 

 with economy except where land and labor are cheap, 

 so that the roots may be produced at a slight expense, 

 or where roots may be secured which would otherwise 

 be destroyed. Be the method what it may, the roots to 

 be forced should be well developed and allowed to 

 freeze before forcing is attempted, otherwise failure 

 to secure a profitable crop is certain. Q_ g_ ADAMS 



RHtJS (ancient Greek name). Anacardictcece. SU- 

 MACH. Trees or shrubs with alternate, usually odd- 

 pinnate Ivs. and no stipules: fls. in axillary or terminal 

 panicles, small, whitish, greenish or yellow; calyx 

 5-parted; petals 5 or sometimes 4 or 6; stamens 4-10: 

 fr. a small dry drupe or berry, usually 1-seeded, Plants 

 with resinous or milky juice, wood often yellow: bark 

 and foliage abounding in tannin, and for this reason 

 used in dressing leather. 



All the species are beautiful and have been apparently 

 much neglected by planters. Any one who has observed 

 our native Sumachs covering rocky hillsides or barren 

 railway banks with their rich fern-like verdure during 

 summer or when autumn has given them colors of fire, 

 should appreciate their value as subjects for orna- 

 mental planting. Some species, too, retain their crim- 

 son fruit throughout the year, and help to make bright 

 spots amid the snows of our northern winters. Some 

 of the stronger-growing species answer very well in 

 subtropical planting and may be cut to the ground 

 every year to encourage the strong young shoots that 

 give the most ample foliage. Some are admirable as 

 single specimens, having a picturesque character that 



2114. House for the forcing of Rhubarb, covered with n.ovable sash. 



Roots for forcing under greenhouse benches and in 

 'hotbeds should be from beds at least three or four years 

 old, as the larger and more vigorous the roots the 

 better the results. Satisfactory results cannot be ob- 

 tained from inferior roots. The roots should be dug 

 early in the fall before the ground freezes and allowed 

 to remain exposed to the weather until they are frozen 

 solid, when it is best either to remove them to a shed or 

 covrr them with litter in the field to prevent alternate 

 freezing and thawing. Care should be taken to leave 

 as much dirt upon the roots as possible when they are 

 dug. 



As soon as the roots are placed in position under 



is quite refreshing. When grown as standards, how- 

 ever, they are likely to be short-lived, and so the suc- 

 cession must be provided for. The laciniate varieties 

 of two of our native species seem to give more leaf- 

 age than the types and are very useful in mass-plant- 

 ing. All the species are easily propagated by seed, 

 layers, root-cuttings and some of them by top-cuttings. 

 The tendency that some of them have to spread by 

 suckering is a disadvantage where they are used in fine 

 lawns. 



Of over one hundred known species only about six- 

 teen have been in cultivation in this country, and these 

 all species of temperate regions; none of the tropical 



