1 Ocr., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 355, 
Thin out the plants to about 6 inches apart, and let them remain in the 
seed-bed until the following spring, when they can be transferred to the 
permanent ground. The rows should not be less than 4 feet apart, and the 
plants at least 3 feet apart in the rows. During the first year the space between 
the rows may be utilised for growing lettuce or any other low-growing vege- 
tables, but after that the plants will require the whole of the room for their 
full development. The ground should be kept well cultivated and free from 
weeds, and all flower-stalks should be cut off as soon as they appear, in order 
that the plants may not exhaust themselves by. forming seed. 
In the winter of each year a heavy top-dressing of coarse manure should be 
applied, and this must be carefully forked in in the spring, care being taken 
that the roots are not broken or disturbed in any way. No stalks should be 
used until the second year, and if left until the third the plants will be all the 
better. 
No plant responds more liberally to judicious watering than rhubarb, and 
in dry weather irrigation gives surprising results in the way of increased yield 
and general vigour of the plants. 
Water should be liberally used when necessary, 
not well to overdo it and make the ground sodden. 
occasionally, is also of great benefit. 
Instead-of raising the plants from seed, which is a rather slow 
is often more convenient to plant crowns—that is, plants—one, or preferably 
two years old. These, planted in the same manner as the seedlings when set 
out in permanent beds, come on very quickly. Such crowns, if planted in July 
or August, begin to grow at once, and in September the stalks from them are 
ready for use. 
By purchasing crowns, therefore, you can have rhubarb fit to use in two 
months instead of having to wait two years for seedlings to come to maturity. 
It will be found more profitable to purchase strong sturdy crowns, and renew 
them every third year, than to go to the trouble of raising seedlings which will 
probably not be very strong or vigorous, especially in the warmer districts of 
the colony. 
Good imported crowns are rather expensive, but T think the expense is 
more than repaid in quickness and thriftiness of growth. + Varieties which 
succeed well here are Joppa New Winter, Myatt’s Victoria, and Giant. 
but at the same time it is 
Liquid manure, applied 
process, it 
VALUE OF PUMPKINS. 
Av the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, New South Wales, 4 acres of poor 
soil were planted last year with 40 different varieties of pumpkins, and the 
following was the result :— 
ge oh th 
Cost of ploughing, discing, harrowing, rolling, 
manuring, striking out drills, working 
holes, seed, and after cultivation ... edi BY 18 
Harvesting and carting to station bin at 517 6 
Freight ... is ae A ihe ae 910 4 
£23 14 
Value of pumpkins sold—net return .., oa 42.18 0 
Less cost of crop ay 35 in a PRL ike 4 
Profit on the dacres ... PO LULL OME 
The pumpkins varied in weight from 1 Ib. to 124 Ib. each. The plot was 
sown in October, and the first ripe fruit was pulled on 19th January. When 
the crop was harvested the land was prepared for lucerne. 
