228 



Gardening 



FIG. 130. Rhubarb along the edge of a garden. The photograph shows the 

 "barrel method" of covering the plants to make the stems longer and more 

 tender. Every other barrel was removed before the picture was taken. 



No leaves should be pulled the first year after reset- 

 ting. 



Roots for starting a bed may be obtained from seed 

 houses or perhaps from a neighbor's garden. The 

 standard varieties known as Victoria and Linnceus are 

 the best sorts. 



Rhubarb may be grown from seed also. Sow the seed 

 early in spring in rows i foot apart in a seed bed. Thin 

 to about 6 inches apart in the row, and when the plants 

 are a year old transplant them to a permanent bed. 



The outer leaves of the rhubarb are pulled for use as 

 soon as they reach proper size. Break them off by a 

 quick side twist and jerk. Later in the season allow 

 plenty of the leaves to remain so that they may furnish 



