CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
419 
581. Fertilizing. — Decayed animal manures may be 
used in large amounts, but fresb manures should never 
be employed immediately before planting. A 4-8-10 fer- 
tilizer, applied at the rate of half a ton or more to the 
acre, should produce excellent results if other conditions 
are favorable. 
582. Marketing. — Radishes are bunched (Figure 97) 
for market, the number in a bunch varying from 3 to 10. 
It is important to grade them. Grading, however, is 
generally neglected. 
For insects and diseases, see Cabbage (363 to 369). 
RHUBARB (Rheum Rhaponticum) 
583. History and importance. — Rhubarb is indigenous 
to eastern Asia. It belongs to the buckwheat family, 
Polygonaceae, and is a highly popular herbaceous peren- 
nial vegetable, being grown in nearly all home gardens. 
It constitutes an important crop on many commercial 
plantations. The succulent stems are used for sauce and 
pies. 
584. Climatic requirements. — The roots are hardy. 
Although fall mulching is often practiced, it is unneces- 
sary so far as root protection is concerned, whatever 
value it may have for other purposes. 
585. Soil. — Deep, rich, sandy loams provide ideal con- 
ditions for rhubarb which, however, may be grown suc- 
cessfully on all types of soil put in the proper condition. 
The large leaves and succulent stems require an enor- 
mous amount of soil moisture, so that irrigation is espe- 
cially valuable for this crop. The earliest marketings 
command the best prices. Warm soils sloping to the 
south are desirable when earliness is the chief considera- 
tion. 
586. Propagation. — The plants are readily propagated 
from seed sown under glass or in the open hue as only 
