292 GARDENING FOE THE SOUTH. 



dium size ; Myatt's Linnaeus, rather early, and yielding 

 large crops of large leaves, and the best flavored of all 

 Myatt's Victoria, which is two weeks later ; stalks ver;y 

 large, and good ; Downing's Colossal, and Gaboon's Mam 

 moth, very large varieties, of good flavor. 



Rhubarb is remarkable for the quantity of phosphates 

 and soda it extracts from the earth. Crude soda might be 

 added to the soil. Guano and bone-dust are very beneficial. 



Rhubarb succeeds best in a rich, deep, rather light loam, 

 and in a situation open to the air and light. Trench the 

 ground two spades deep. It may be raised from seed, but 

 thus grown, sports into new varieties. It is best prop- 

 agated by dividing the roots, reserving a bud to each 

 piece. These may set about two inches deep in rows three 

 feet apart, and from eighteen to thirty inches (according 

 to the sort) in the row. All the culture required is to 

 keep the surface soil light and free from weeds. The plan- 

 tation may be made in the fall, after the leaves are killed 

 by frost, and protected by litter, or as early in the spring 

 as the weather and soil permit. It should not be disturb- 

 ed after growth commences. Pluck no leaves the first 

 year, after which the crop will be abundant. Make a new 

 plantation about once in five years. If a plant or two in 

 summer dies out, as it is apt to do in the South, it is best 

 to remove the next autumn the old plant together with soil 

 in which it grew, and supply fresh soil. New plants to re- 

 set the vacancy can be obtained by uncovering an old crown 

 and cutting from it a bud with a piece of root attached. 



To obtain the largest product, the flower stems should 

 be broken off when they appear, for the plant is weakened 

 by permitting it to seed. A yearly surface dressing of 

 well-rotted manure should be given, for the stalks, to be 

 good, must be quickly grown. 



Forcing. This plant is forced by placing a large flower 

 pot over the roots, and covering with stable manure. The 

 more common way is to surround the plant with a small 



