March IS, 1868. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
221 
thoroughly practical men have to stand aside for want of a fair field. 
I feel confident that if a Society were started on principles such as 
"Gamo” proposed in the issue of February 23rd, it would prove the 
most effectual way of removing all those who have been, as Gamo ” 
puts it, “ pitchforked into good places.” Then will be the time when 
thoroughly prafctical gardeners, with a fair amount of learning, whether 
self-taught or otherwise, will stand a better chance of recognition than 
now. 
I trust some of our most able gardeners will t ake up and try and 
further the movement, and I am sure all with any interest in them¬ 
selves and their profession will be only too glad to put their shoulder to 
the wheel.—T ento. 
CROPS THAT PAY. 
Rhubarb.— During the past few years many have engaged in 
the culture of Rhubarb, but there is still room for others, and 
beginners need not despair that if they embark in this undertaking 
they wiR fail to find buyers for their produce. At the present 
time the demand is increasing, and the supply is not equal to it, 
consequently it realises moderately high prices early in the season. 
There is generally a scarcity just preceding the first pulling of the 
outdoor crop. This might be met without a large outlay on the 
part of different growers, or fresh ones. What is most needed is 
large quantities just preceding the first gathering of the outdoor 
crop. Every grower in the northern counties would do well to 
erect large sheds or houses, or cover the roots by some means, 
whereby they could supply a good quantity just before the other 
was ready. It is surprising how rapidly it comes forward with the 
slightest protection if covered early enough in the season. Cement 
and Apple barrels can often be had for next to nothing, or at the 
most the price of fire wood, and these are very suitable for the 
purpose ; sheds with glass roofs are preferable, for the roots can be 
packed closely together. By caiTying out any such plan it will be 
found that the ground devoted to this crop is doubly remunerative. 
The best returns are obtained by those who make provision for 
supplying it in a forced state only, and these growers have gene¬ 
rally exhausted their stock before the time pointed out. Although 
the majority to be seen in our markets early in the year has a 
blanched appearance, there is no reason why it should be produced 
in this condition ; the tide is changing, and ere long preference 
will be given to that produce which more closely resembles Rhubarb 
in a natural state—in fact, such produce will realise a better price 
now. One advantage is gained early in the season by growing it 
in the dark—namely, it attains the required length quicker than it 
is capable of doing when grown in the light. 
Those who force Rhubarb to precede the outdoor crop should 
grow it as naturally as possible. They will discover that it will 
bring nearly as good a price, sometimes better than that forced 
early. Stock may be planted at once for another year’s forcing. 
For this purpose we plant 2 feet apart each way, so that when they 
are once in active growth the foliage will smother any weeds that 
make their appearance. Large roots should not be planted, or 
those with large plump crowns. The last are objectionable for 
forcing purposes, for the simple reaspn that they flower, and 
numerous smaT crowns are then produced. Pieces with small 
crowns are the best, if they have the whole season before them in 
which to develope strong crowns. How is planting done to make 
this crop pay ? Surely not by digging and planting, as that operation 
proceeds the same as performed in private gardens. No. The 
manure is spread upon the land if it requires manuring, but if this 
has been liberally applied for the preceding crop the Rhubarb has 
none. From this do not infer that it can be profitably grown on 
poor land, for such is not the case. Although Rhubarb will grow 
almost anywhere, it nevertheless pays for planting in well-worked 
and liberally manured soil. Sometimes it is planted on ground in 
which Lettuces have formed the early crop, followed by Veitch’s 
Autumn Giant Cauliflower. Sometimes it is planted after late 
Potatoes, but very rarely, as it is better after Cauliflowers, Brussels 
Sprouts, or some crop where Lettuces or Potatoes have been taken 
from the same ground earlier in the season. Such crops take 
much out of the land, and a light dressing of manure then follows 
the removal of the last crop. 
Rhubarb can be ploughed-in by placing the roots in every third 
furrow. The better plan is to plough the land whenever the 
weather is favourable and an opportunity presents itself, and then 
plant with the aid of a spade the same way as the land has been 
ploughed. In this case it is necessary for a man and a boy to work 
together. Those familiar with the planting of Turnips and other 
similar roots for seed as a field crop will readily understand how 
the work is carried out. Directly the plants show above ground 
the land is worked between them once to check small weeds. If 
this work is done by the aid of a horse the hoe must be used as 
well between the plants, which prevents the “ headlands ” being 
cropped for a time. Generally this work can be done in the case 
of Rhubarb in time for a crop of Lettuces, Beet, White Turnips to 
draw when ready, and we have had a valuable crop of Swedes, just 
the size for shop purposes. When grown for this purpose alone 
the seed should not be sown too early, or on land that is too rich. 
However, this matter need not trouble those who live in the 
vicinity of towns, for large ones sell just as well as small ones, 
although for a different purpose. It generally happens that the 
larger they are the better they are likely to pay the grower, pro¬ 
vided the quality is good. 
Seakale.— Another crop that pays is Seakale in a forced state, 
if tliis may be regarded as a luxury ; nevertheless it is in demand, 
and if more was produced more would be required, simply because 
it would be within the reach of a gi’eater member of buyers, who at 
the present time are in the position only to look on and pass by. 
If it were half its present price, would it pay ? Most decidedly it 
would, for it is not a crop that entails a large amount of labour in 
production. The cost of planting, manuring, lifting, and cleaning 
is less than that required in the culture of Potatoes. The 
preparation of the sets is only work for boys, and can be done 
during weather when most operations outside are at a standstill. 
Another advantage is that it can be planted before cropping 
generally commences, in fact it matters very little when it is 
planted provided the ground has been well worked and is fertile. 
I have planted from the end of January to the end of March with 
no striking difference in results. Towards the end of February is a 
good time, but so much depends upon the nature of the soil upon 
which it is planted. A stock is readily raised by sowing seed 
towards the close of March or early in April in shallow drills 
15 inches apart, the young plants to be thinned to 6 inches apart. 
Fair crowns can be produced in one season from seed, but the 
plants must be given more room to develope. A one-year-old 
plant will frequently make two good sets or root cutting from 
which large crowns may be expected. The sets should be all one 
length, 6 inches, and be planted 18 inches from row to row, and about 
15 inches apart in the row. If the land has been well worked they 
can be planted with a dibble, placed in a slightly slanting direction 
so that the soil is easily pressed to them with the foot. The most 
promising crowns only should be left, and when they are disbudded 
the ground may be worked to check weeds until their spreading 
foliage covers it. These are far preferable to seedlings. 
All methods of forcing outside for market purposes have to give 
place to that of lifting the crowns and forcing them in sheds, under 
the stage of warm houses, rendered dark by shutters. Early in the 
season heat is essential, later it is not needed. The roots can be 
packed thickly together in ashes, leaf sod, sawdust, sand, garden 
soil, in fact anything. We prefer the second, or old Mushroom 
bed refuse, in which they root amazingly, and from which we fancy 
the best heads are produced. This is a matter, however, that 
might well exercise the attention of some private grower, wbo has 
nothing to lose by conducting a few experiments, but in the end 
gains enormously, by adding to his store of knowledge, and to that 
of others who cannot carry out such important work. Forcing when 
the season has advanced is simple, but the early practice is the most 
profitable, and that can only be had by pulling off the leaves of a 
portion of the stock in the end of “September, or early the following 
month, digging up the roots, but not by conveying them at once to 
the quarters in which they are to be forced, as they are apt to be 
stubborn, like Rhubarb. After they are lifted leave them on the 
ground fully exposed, and allow them to become thoroughly 
frozen. This completes the season’s work, and they are ready for 
the forcing house. 
Mint.— I intended in this paper to treat of another “ crop that 
pays.” Its growth was the result of an advertisement in a daily 
paper announcing that at a certain restaurant lamb would be served 
amongst other things on a certain day. I could scarcely believe 
what I had read, for I had no idea the lambing season had com¬ 
menced, and to realise that they would be fit for eating on a certa in 
day surprised me not a little. So I concluded that if they had 
lamb mint sauce would be an indispensable accompaniment. I still 
have doubts about the lamb, but none about the Mint, for on the 
first market folio-wing the announcement I went early to see if 
Mint had found its way into the market. Some foreigner had 
anticipated this enterprising restaurant manager by forwarding 
three or four tiny bundles of Mint about 8 inches in length, beau¬ 
tifully blanched for 6 inches of its length, with a few pale sickly 
yellow-green leaves on the top. But there it was, and all who have 
any doubts about it will find Mint in our markets before the month 
of January has far advanced. But more on the Mint topic some 
other time.— Marketer. 
PLANTING ASPARAGUS. 
March is a good time for planting this vegetable. In preparing new 
beds see that the ground is well trenched to the depth of 4 feet where 
