136 



MY GARDEN. 



obtained by taking up one or two large roots about the third week 

 in November,' and placing them in the cucumber-house or cutting-house 

 for use at Christmas. My gardener has forced it by placing a few roots 

 in one of our warm springs and there covering them with a matting. 

 The next crop is obtained by covering the crown with straw, and the 

 last crop comes spontaneously in the open air. Rhubarb is much used- 

 in London for wine to be drunk as champagne at balls. It is, however, 

 not wholesome, and frequently disagrees with the stomach. Persons 

 should always be on their guard against rhubarb, and should not take 

 it if experience shows that it disagrees. It is much more wholesome 

 when young and forced, than when gathered in the open air later in 

 the season, as the oxalic acid is then not so largely developed. We 

 grow the Linnaeus and the Victoria varieties. 



Visn.-XVII.^Scme on the Wandl«. 



