104- Culture and Forcing of the Early Scarlet Bhuharh. 



Art. XV. TlinU on the Cultivation 'and Forcing of the Early 

 Scarlet Rhubarb and Sea-kale. By Mr. David Spiers. 



Sir, 



If you think the following hints on the forcing and manage- 

 ment of the jRheum rhaponticum, or what is called the Early 

 Scarlet Rhubarb, worthy a place in your useful Magazine, 

 they are at your service. 



This rhubarb was introduced into the county of Stafford by 

 the Rev. T. Gisborne, Yoxall Lodge, Needwood Forest, near 

 Lichfield, who brought it from Ashton in Yorkshire, about 

 twenty-six years ago. I was informed by John Baillie, who 

 was gardener there for upwards of thirty years, that he had 

 forced it for eighteen years. When I was gardener at Holly 

 Bush Hall, near Yoxall Lodge, I have had it in the beginning 

 of December, by removing the roots carefully, and potting 

 them with vegetable soil in large pine pots. I afterwards had 

 a place made in the mushroom house, where I used to place 

 the roots in old tan. Since I left that situation, 1 have had 

 the opportunity of trying another method of forcing, which is 

 better than any I know of, as it does away with all unnecessary 

 trouble in taking up the roots, potting, &c. 



I find that plants forced where they have established them- 

 selves, will produce more than those that are removed, and 

 of much finer quality. The length or number of beds for 

 forcing, must be regulated according to the size of the family; 

 and, supposing the beds are 23 ft. long by 3 ft. wide, having a 

 trench on each side, 2 ft. wide by 1 ft. 6 in. deep, for linings, 

 a bed of this length will hold ten plants, 2 ft. apart, the first 

 being 1 ft. 6 in. from the end of the bed. In the autumn, 

 when the plants are cleared of their leaves, let the surface of the 

 beds be forked over to the depth of 4 in., afterwards breaking it 

 with the head of the rake ; place a proper forcing-pot on each 

 plant, and, at the same time, cover the soil in the inside of the 

 pots with dry river sand, to the thickness of I in., which gives a 

 clean appearance, and likewise prevents the leaves damping. As 

 soon as it is thought necessary to begin forcing, let the trenches 

 be filled with horse-dung from the stable-yard, taking care to 

 shake and beat it well with the fork, and carrying the linings 

 about 1 ft. 3 in. higher than the surface of the beds ; then 

 cover the beds over, from lining to lining, about 1 ft. 3 in, 

 higher than the pots, with dry littery straw. In three weeks 

 from the time the linings are applied, the rhubarb will be ready 

 to cut. Care should be taken to renew the linings when 

 necessary, keeping the pots sufficiently covered with straw. 



