332 MISCELLANEOUS VEGETABLES. 



RHUBARB. 



Pie-plant. Rheum sp. et var. 



This is a hardy, perennial plant, cultivated almost exclu- 

 sively for its leaf-stalks. The flower-stalk is put forth in 

 June, and is from five to seven feet in height, according to 

 the variety ; the flowers are red, or reddish-white, in erect, 

 loose, terminal spikes ; the seeds are brown, triangular, 

 membranous at the corners, and retain their germinative 

 properties three years. 



Soil and Cultivation. Rhubarb succeeds best in deep, 

 somewhat retentive, soil : the richer its condition, and the 

 deeper it is stirred, the better, as it is scarcely possible to 

 cultivate too deeply, or to manure too highly. 



It may be propagated by seeds, or by a division of the 

 roots ; the latter being the usual method. When grown 

 from seeds, the plants not only differ greatly in size and 

 quality, but are much longer in attaining a growth suitable 

 for cutting. 



" Whether grown from seed, or increased by a division of 

 the roots, a deep, rich soil, trenched to the depth of two or 

 even three feet, is required to insure the full development of 

 the leaf-stalks ; for upon their size, rapidity of growth, and 

 consequent tenderness of fibre, much of their merit depends. 

 The seed should be sown in April, in drills a foot asunder, 

 thinning the plants, when a few inches high, to nine inches 

 apart. In the autumn or spring following, they will be fit for 

 transplanting in rows three feet asunder, and the plants set 

 three feet apart. If propagated by dividing the roots, it may 

 be done either in autumn or spring, the same distance being 

 given to the sets that is allowed for seedling plants. As, how- 

 ever, some of the varieties grow to a much larger size than 

 others, a corresponding distance should be accorded them, 

 extending to five feet between the rows, and three feet from 

 plant to plant." Mclnt. 



