Rhopaloblaste 



( 273 ) 



.Rhubarb 



RHOPALOBLASTE. 



Stove Palms (tirtl ]'alm;i>). Propagation, by 

 imported seeds sown in strong heat. Soil, mellow 

 loam. 



Principal Species : 

 hcxanilni, (->', Ivs. much gingaporeiisis (tee Ptycho- 



divided, rich gru. radius siiigaporensis). 



RHOPALOSTYLIS. 



Tall-growing, Kentia-like Palms (ore/. Palmaj), 

 thriving in the greenhouse. Propagation, by 

 imported seeds. Soil, sound loam. 



Excellent produce may, however, be grown in any 

 on Unary garden ground i it be well worked and 

 manured. 



Other Cultural Points. Each year after the 

 leaves have died the bed should be cleaned, the 

 surface soil loosened and heavily dressed with good 

 stable manure. This may or may not be pointed 

 in at discretion. In spring the soil should be 

 lightly loosened, and at no period should weeds be 

 allowed to become established. The flower spikes 

 should be removed. 



Forcing Rhubarb. This may be done by cover- 



BHODODBKDBOH (IKIEVEI deep. 271). 



Principal Species : 

 Baueri, 20' (*y. Areca 

 Baueri). 



sapida, 20' (SWHS. Areca 

 sapida aim Kentia 

 sapida). 



RHUBARB. 



Description. This is one of the most valuable 

 vegetables (ord. Polygonaceae) grown in the garden, 

 because it possesses such marked medicinal proper- 

 ties. The crop is often a neglected one, as growers 

 appear to think that good Hhubarb can be ob- 

 tained with the smallest amount of attention. 



Propagation. By seeds sown in early autumn 

 in drills 3' or 4' asunder. The ground should 

 previously have been deeply dug, and well enriched 

 with thoroughly decayed natural manure. The 

 plants must be thinned until at the finish they are 

 3' apart for the smaller and 4' for the larger 

 varieties. Or the stools may be lifted and divided 

 in spring, retaining three buds to each portion, 

 4ind replanted in soil prepared as for seedlings. 

 This is the usual method for keeping the varieties 

 true to character. 



Soil. A deep, friable loam in an open position. 

 43 



ing the stools with inverted tubs or baskets, 

 surrounding these with litter, or, and by far the 

 best plan where a quantity is required, by lifting 

 the stools and placing them in any convenient dark 



Cition in heat. Stools that have been lifted and 

 ied are not worth saving, and a method must 

 therefore be adopted whereby the stock is always 

 fully maintained. Thus, as lifting proceeds, the 

 stools should be divided, the smaller pieces being 

 replanted, and the much larger section used for 

 forcing. It is essential to the greatest success in 

 forcing that the clumps be sharply frozen before 

 being taken indoors. A Mushroom house is a 

 splendid place for forcing. 



Selection of Varieties : 



For Forcing: 



Daw's Champion. 

 Fnr General Ute: 

 Hawke'a Champagne. 



The Sutton Forcing. 



Linnneus. 



Victoria. 



xi'r lloiipata). 



ii/mn i >f Sclintt (see Staitrotti/jma). 

 llhularb, PricTilij (see Gunnera). 



