196 



VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



The seeds are large and tri- 



bundant crops for many year 

 angular. 



Culture. Rhubarb is readily increased from the seed, 

 which germinates quickly. Seedlings vary considerably 



but not enough to prevent 

 this method of propaga- 

 tion from being the one 

 most commonly practiced. 

 They attain good trans- 

 planting size in one year. 

 It is customary to sow the 

 seed in rows three feet 

 apart, early in the spring, 

 and set out the plants when 

 one year old where they 

 are to grow: the plants 

 may also be thinned out 

 and a few T allowed to re- 

 main where the seeds are 

 sown. When it is desired to 

 propagate the specially 

 valuable qualities of individual plants, it is done by dividing 

 the roots, using care to take at least one good bud with each 

 piece of root. This is the only sure way of getting the best 

 plants. 



It is preferable to set the plants out in the fall where they 

 are to grow, but spring planting is often followed. They 

 should be set in the richest of land four feet apart each way. 

 The stalks should not be pulled until the spring of the second 

 year and then only to a small extent: the third year they 

 should give a good crop. The only culture needed is to keep 

 the ground free from weeds and loose, and to use plenty of 

 manure. In gathering rhubarb, the stalks should be removed 

 from the crown by a jerk downward and sideways, and care 

 should be taken not to be so rough about it as to pull the buds 

 from the crown at the same time. There is little danger of 

 pulling more leaves than the plant can stand without injury, 

 but in the case of a young plantation it would not be well to 

 remove more than one-half of the leaves at any one time. The 

 stalks are most in demand early in the spring, but there is 



Fig. 106.— Rhubarb plant in flower. 



