Cultural Directions. — 293 



RHUBARB. 



Rheiim Hybridum {Rhaponticum). German, Rhabarber ; 

 French, Rlmbarbe ; Spanish, Ruibarbo. — Rhubarb, or pie-plant, 

 is largely grown for market near all larger cities, and found in 

 almost every American home garden. It is usually propagated 

 by division of the roots, each eye or bud with a piece of the 

 fleshy root attached being capable of producing a large plant 

 within a year's time. It also grows readily from the seed, at a 

 year's delay in producing the crop. Plants grown from seed 

 also vary very largely in habit of growth. Seed is sown in drills, 

 12 or 15 inches apart, and the plants thinned to a few inches in the 

 drills. In fall or spring following they are to be set out in same 

 way as pieces of roots from older plants. 



Select warm, well-drained soil, plow deeply, if possible 

 following with a subsoil plow, and mark out furrows four feet 

 apart each way. A few shovelfuls of rich compost should be 

 mixed with the soil at each intersection. Then set the plants 

 carefully and firmly, and from this time on keep the ground 

 cultivated and free from weeds. In spring following, the stalks 

 may be pulled freely. A plantation will last many years, but the 

 plants should be given a good dressing of rich compost every 

 year or two. Home gardeners sometimes place boxes, or kegs 

 with heads removed, over the hills in early spring, and by this 

 means produce extra long and tender growth of stalk. 



For winter and early spring use, Rhubarb is often forced 

 in greenhouses and cold-frames, and usually with very fair profit. 

 The roots are taken up in the autumn, crowded together in boxes 

 or barrels with a little soil between them, and placed in any con- 

 venient place in the greenhouse (under the benches, for instance), 

 where they soon start into growth. For cold-frame culture the 

 roots are planted closely together in a deep frame in the autumn, 

 and covered with a heavy layer of dry forest leaves. In February 

 or March the leaves are removed, and the sashes put on. Forced 

 Rhubarb is usually more tender and succulent than that from 

 open ground. 



VARIETIES. 



Victoria, Wyatt's Victoria. — Stalks red, and very thick. 

 Leaves broad. Productive. Late. 



Linnaeus, "Wyatt's Linnaeus. — Stalks deep green, early. 



ROSEMARY. 



Rosmarinus Officinalis. German, Rosviariii ; French, 

 Romarin ; Spanish, Romero. — A shrub-like perennial, the leaves 

 of which are used for seasoning. Propagated from seed, or 



