34 



Perennial Crops 



the best known are Victoria, Linnaeus, and Mammoth 

 Eed; bnt the old-fashioned unimproved rhubarb will often 

 produce a better leaf-stalk when given high cultivation 

 than the best strain of Victoria when grown under neglect. 

 The plant should not be allowed to bloom (the flower- 

 stalks being cut out as soon as they appear), 

 unless it is desired to raise seed. 



Ehubarb is not particular as to soil, but 

 it thrives best on land that is mellow and 

 fertile to a considerable depth. Lands with 

 a high subsoil or hardpan are to be avoided. 

 The plantation should last for a number of 

 years, and it is therefore important that 

 the original preparation of land should be 

 of the best. It should be heavily fertilized. 

 There is little danger of adding too much 

 stable manure, particularly if the soil is 

 either very hard or very loose. If the land 

 is not in good tilth, it is best to grow a 

 preparatory crop, as potatoes or root-crop, 

 and to use liberally of stable manure 

 7. A bunch of in that year. If the land is not natu- 

 ''^^^y ^^^P' is -well to subsoil it just 

 before the rhubarb is planted. It should 

 always be well drained. 



The rows should be sufficiently spaced to allow of easy 

 horse tillage, — not less than 4 or 5 feet for the strong- 

 growing varieties. In the row the plants may be placed 

 about 3 to 4 feet apart. Some growers place the rows as 

 far apart as 6 feet, and the plants 3 feet in the row. 

 It is a good plan to leave alleys at intervals in a rhubarb 



