280 VEGETABLE GROWING PROJECTS 



4. Preparing soil. — All that was said about preparing the soil 

 for asparagus (W : 271) applies equally well to rhubarb. 



5. Planting. — Though rhubarb may be propagated from seed, 

 this method is seldom employed because there is such a wide 

 variation in the character of the seedlings. The method is of 

 doubtful value, even when the plants are wanted for forcing pur- 

 poses. The usual method of propagation is by root division. 

 After about four crops of rhubarb are harvested from a plantation, 

 the stalks become too small to satisfy market demands and the 

 roots are then plowed out, and often used for forcing. If desired 

 a sufficient number of strong eyes maj' be saved to set the new 

 plantation. 



The propagation of this crop is an exceedingly simple matter. 

 The roots or eyes are generally planted 3X4 or 4X4 feet 

 apart. If planted in check rows, a horse cultivator may be used 

 both ways, which is a great advantage. The roots should be planted 

 in furrows opened with a plow and covered with several inches of 

 soil. Early spring is the favorite time for planting. 



1. How is rhubarb propagated ? L : 199. C : 403. 



2. When should it be planted? What are the proper planting 



distances ? W-VG : 420. L : 199. C : 404. 



6. Cultivating. — W : 274. Thorough tillage should be given 

 with horse cultivators. The loss of moisture by transpiration 

 from the enormous leaves is very great, so that the conservation 

 of soil moisture is an important matter in growing large crops. 



1. What kind of cultivation do you recommend for rhubarb? 

 W-VG: 421. 



7. Maintaining fertility. — Rhubarb plantations should receive 

 heavy applications of stable manure every fall, supplemented by 

 probably 1000 pounds to the acre of high-grade fertilizer, applied 

 early in the spring. High fertility is essential in the production of 

 large stalks. 



