THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 
161 
had a fine plantation of rhubarb gave permission to a friend 
to take as much as he liked while the owner was away for a 
summer jaunt. The friend was suddenly fired with an ambi- 
tion to make some wonderful rhubarb wine, and for several 
weeks in the height of the season, he pulled every stalk he 
could get, so. that when the growing season was over, the 
stools were stripped bare. The next spring showed the 
result of the greedy procedure, for two-thirds of the stools had 
died, and the remainder quite failed in respect of giving an 
early supply, but recovered by being left untouched the whole 
season. 
Selection oe Varieties. — The sorts best adapted for early 
supplies in a small garden are Maclean’s Bed Currant , John- 
stons St. Martins , and Royal Albert ; for summer supply, 
Victoria and Baldrys Defiance. The noblest of the rhubarbs 
for ornamental purposes is Stott’s Monarch, which is so grand 
in its proportions as to be fit for a place on the lawn. It has 
the flavour of an apple, but is a very poor imitation of that 
fruit, and, generally speaking, is too coarse for culinary 
purposes. 
M 
