Oy EEARTXG KITCHEX VEGETABLES. 



69 



thirmiiigs maybe planted in a similar situation, if reqnii'ed, 

 though in this case they must be taken up with care, so as 

 not to break the roots. It is a bad practice to prick the 

 whole of the plants out, as some recommend, for the roots 

 would thus be greatly injm-ed, and not the slightest 

 advantage would be derived fi^om it. Xo attention is re- 

 quired for the plants during the first year, except to keep 

 down weeds. 



As soon as the leaves are decayed, the seedling plants 

 should be taken up with care, and planted out in rows two 

 feet apart, and the same distance between the plants. 

 When they are planted fai^ther apart than this, a great 

 portion of ground will be wasted, as they are not injiu^ed 

 by being shaded by each, other. Rhubarb should always 

 be planted in a shaded or northern situation, if the garden 

 Contains such a one, as their stems will be finer and better 

 when not too much exposed to the sun ; besides which, as 

 most other plants rec[uire more light, these will thus 

 occupy a situation which could not be made available for 

 many others. Any rich soil will gi'ow good rhubarb, which 

 will require an annual top dressing of well-rotted manure ; 

 this should be apjjlied in the autumn, and, during the win- 

 ter, the nutriment it contains will be conveyed down to 

 the roots by the rain, and it will also cause the leaves to 

 commence growing much earlier in the spring. 



As seedling plants of rhubarb do not produce stems fit 

 for use till two years after the time of sowing, if plants 

 are desired to be obtained sooner than they can thus be 

 brought into use, the old roots may betaken up and sepa- 

 rated into as many parts as there are crowns or eyes, 

 leaving a portion of the root to each : these may be planted 

 out where desired, and they will soon produce stems suffi- 

 ciently strong for any required purpose. If the roots of a 

 few plants are taken up in Xovember, and planted in pots 

 in a rich soil ; by placing them in a warm and dark place, 

 the stems will be grown sufficiently by Christmas for 

 affording a supply during the whole of this festive season. 

 Or, if they are planted at the same time in rotten dung, 

 w"hich has been previously placed in a dark cupboard or 

 ehed, they will soon commence growing without the ap- 

 plication of heat, provided they are kept sufficiently damp. 



