RHUBARB. 105 



precaution to scatter among them not less than a bushel 

 of sand or dry earth to each two or three bushels of rad- 

 ishes. Cover with nine inches of straw and about six 

 inches of soil, and just before winter sets in, put on an- 

 other layer of straw and cover with six inches more of 

 soil, or enough to completely hide and cover all the 

 straw. 



The leading varieties of winter radishes are the Chi- 

 nese White, the Chinese Rose, Calif ornia Mammoth White, 

 and the Black Spanish. The latter is a very hardy va- 

 riety, somewhat harsh to ordinary tastes, but seems to be 

 highly relished by those who like it. The California Mam- 

 moth White is a larger and somewhat milder variety, and 

 would suit ordinary tastes better than the Black Spanish. 

 The seed is grown by setting out some of the best selected 

 roots in the spring, in rows two feet apart, and six inches 

 distant in the row; harvest and thrash the same as direct- 

 ed for summer radish. 



RHUBARB. 



When raised from seed, Rhubarb is sown as early in 

 the spring as the ground can be properly worked. Pre- 

 pare the soil as directed for raising celery plants. Any 

 one who can raise these well, can raise good rhubarb 

 plants. If convenient, the seed may be sown in a box in 

 the house, or in a moderately warm hot-bed, and the 

 plants set out in rows twenty-one inches apart, and two 

 to three inches apart in the row, as soon as the weather 

 and soil will permit. The land can not be too rich, and 

 if it is not intended to use the horse-hoe between the 

 rows, they may be from twelve to fifteen inches apart, 

 and kept clean by the frequent use of the hoe. When 

 sown in the open ground, the plants need not be trans- 

 planted, but should be thinned out to three inches apart 



