422 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



590. Marketing. Harvesting begins as soon as the 

 stalks have attained a length sufficient to satisfy the 

 markets. The largest stalks are pulled, no attention be- 

 ing paid to the smaller ones, although the small stems 

 are more tender for midsummer use. It is not customary 

 to make heavy pullings until the third year from plant- 

 ing. Harvesting in any year should not continue until 

 the plants are largely exhausted. Rhubarb is essentially 

 a late spring and early summer crop. Ordinarily the sea- 

 son of marketing lasts about two months, May and June 

 being the months when the crop is consumed most 

 largely. From two to eight stalks are tied in a bunch. 

 Red or blue tape adds considerably to the attractiveness 

 of the product. 



RUTABAGA (Brassica campestris) 



591. Culture. It is also known as "Swedish Turnip" 

 and in England as "Turnip-Rooted Cabbage." In compo- 

 sition and character of growth it is very similar to kohl- 

 rabi (page 349), and requires practically the same cul- 

 tural conditions. The flesh is considered richer than that 

 of the turnip. Rutabaga requires a deep, moist, fertile 

 soil. For the early crop, the plants may be started un- 

 der glass, as recommended for kohl-rabi. The usual 

 method, though, is to sow as soon as the open ground 

 can be prepared, to produce the early crop. This vege- 

 table is most largely consumed in the fall. It is also 

 stored for winter use, being preserved in the same way 

 as other root crops. For the late crop the sowings 

 should be made in most sections from the middle of June 

 until July 6. The plants should be thinned to about 8 

 inches apart. The spacing between rows may vary from 

 15 to 30 inches, depending upon whether hand wheel 

 hoes or horse implements are to be used in cultivating. 

 The roots will stand some freezing, so they need not be 



