VEGETABLES RHUBARB. 279 



The time of planting in the Northern or Western States 

 may be either in the fall or spring ; at the South the 

 full is preferable. 



Rhubarb is usually propagated by division of the old 

 roots ; each eye or bud, when broken apart with a root 

 attached, forming a plant. But making a plantation of 

 any great extent in this way is expensive to the begin- 

 ner ; as the roots are rarely to be purchased under $50 

 per 1,000 eyes, and as about 3,000 plants are required 

 for an acre, quite an outlay is necessary. 



This expense may be obviated by increasing the plants 

 by seeds, instead of by division of the roots. In the 

 Northern States, the best time to sow the seed is about 

 the middle of April, in the open ground, in rows a foot 

 apart, if the plants are to be again transplanted ; if to be 

 left where sown, the rows must be three feet apart, and 

 the plants thinned out in the rows to one foot apart. 

 But as this latter plan requires the occupation of the 

 land too long, the usual way is to sow closely and trans- 

 plant. Care must be taken that the seed is well trodden 

 in with the feet, as it is very light and rather slow to 

 germinate. The soil best suited is a rich sandy loam, 

 which should be thoroughly pulverized, and the surface 

 made completely level before sowing. 



The plants may be transplanted from the seed-bed 

 either in fall or spring. 



The first season after planting, no stalks should be 

 pulled, but the next year a full return may be expected 

 if proper attention has been given to cultivation. 



It is exceedingly difficult to name the annual profits 

 from an acre of Rhubarb in full bearing, as everything 

 depends upon earliness. Even here, in the vicinity of 

 New York, growers vary in their statements from $100 

 to $300 per acre. The difference of a week in earliness 

 often makes a difference of $150 and $200. 



It may be safe to say, however, that it will average, in 



