Rhubarb — Docks 



445 



young plants are thinned to 6 to 8 inches apart in the 

 row. The plants are set in permanent positions the year 

 following, that is, when they are one year old. In the 

 Northern states rhubarb is nearly always planted in the 

 spring whether from seedlings or root -cuttings, but in 

 milder climates it may be planted in the fall. 



An acre of rhubarb requires about as much seed as an acre 

 of asparagus. The number of seeds in an ounce is about the 

 same as in asparagus. It is a good plan to leave alleys at inter- 

 vals in a rhubarb field to allow the entrance of wagons. From 

 2 to 5 stalks are tied in a bunch for market, and an acre should 

 produce 3,000 dozen bunches. In 1889, North American seeds- 

 men offered six varieties of rhubarb. Sometimes used for wine. 



Rhubarb {EJieum Bliaponticum) is one of the PolygonaceaB or 

 buckwheat family. It is native to eastern Asia. For historical 

 sketch by Sturtevant, see Amer. Nat., April, 1890, pp. 328-332. 



There are no troublesome insects or diseases. 



For special literature, consult Thompson's Rhubarb Culture." 



DOCKS AND SORRELS 



"Various species of docks and sorrels have long been 

 cultivated as pot-herbs. Some of them are very de- 

 sirable additions to the garden because they yield 

 a pleasant food in very early spring, and, once 

 planted, they remain for years. We have grown two 

 of the French docks for years and find them to be very 

 good. One is the Spinage Dock {Oseille Epinard) , the 

 other the Large Belleville {Oseille Large cle Belleville). 

 The former is the better of the two, perhaps, and it has 

 the advantage of being a week or ten days earlier. The 

 broad crisp leaves appear early in April when there is 



