118 RHUKAZE. 



division, either in the autumn or in the spring, and plant- 

 ing them in the same way as seedling plants. The 'after 

 culture consists in keeping the bed clear of weeds, forking 

 in a top dressing of manure every spring, and cutting off 

 the flower stems as they appear. If these are permitted to 

 grow, they weaken the plant and reduce the size of the 

 leaves and leaf stalks. For the same reason no leaves 

 should he gathered the first year and only a few the second 

 year; after that the crop may be more freely gathered. 

 In gathering the leaves, they should be pulled off vertically, 

 and not cut or broken off, as the part left rots and injures 

 the crown of the plant. 



Ehubarb may be forwarded and had much earlier in the 

 season, by placing over each plant, in February or March, 

 an empty barrel, and surrounding it with a bed of leaves or 

 long manure two or three feet thick. By this process the 

 stems are blanched, and become very crisp and tender, but 

 lose their flavor to some extent. It scarcely repays the 

 trouble of doing it, except in having an out-of-season 

 luxury. 



For family use the large, coarse-growing sorts are not 

 as desirable as those which are of smaller growth, but 

 higher flavor, and more tender and succulent. The fol- 

 lowing two varieties are the only ones we recommend for 

 private gardens: 



MyaWs Linnceus; is an early, medium-sized variety, of 

 fine flavor, and, comparatively with many other sorts, of 

 less acidity. 



Early Prince Imperial; is an early medium-sized variety 

 of high flavor ; it turns red in cooking, becoming as red as 

 currant jelly, which makes it very desirable for stewing. 

 This is probably the Prince Albert of some growers. It 

 is grown about Boston chiefly. 



