Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-19
Culture of Rhubarb.

This wholesome plant is growing yearly II
public favor the sale has increased to slol
an extent that it is not uncommon to see a.
acre of it in a single patch among the marse
gardeners, who send daily at this season whole
loads TO market
The culture is simple, but two things beinl
esseptial--clean culture aud plenty Of ma
uure. The land should be deep loan, that
does not suffer from drouth a rather moist
soil suits it, but does not bring the crop 50
early as lighter location. The land should
have been thoroughly cleaned from all foul
weeds and couch grass by thorough tillage,
and after clearing the summer crops we usu-
ally plant the rhubarb in November, just be-
fore the land freezes. A good dressing Of
manure is plowed in, burrows are struck out
four feet asuLder aud more manure placed in
the drill ;. the two manurings should not be
less than twelve cords per acre. The roots
from an old bed are dug up and divided so
as to leave one or two strong buds on each
piece or set. The sets are planted in the drill
three feet apart aud covered about two inches
with earth by the hoe. The next spring the
plants will come up in May and will need one
or two hoeings aud cultvatings before the
leaves cover the land, when nothing more
need be done until the frost kills the leaves.
No stalks should be pulled for use during
this year. After the frost has killed the
leaves the horse pillow is run between the
rows, turning light furrow from the roots,
making ridge between the rows these rows
are half filled with strong manure, which is
covered by splitting the ridge with the pow
The next spring we begin TO pull as soon as
the stalks are six inches high, selecting only
a few of the best on each hill; after a few
days we pull again, aud about June 10th, or
Just before strawberries and gooseborries be-
gin to spoil the sale, we pull all the leaves
of clean, and Immediately run the cultiyator
and hoe. The aftergrowth is allowed to grow
and shade the land, and after the frost has
killed the leaves the mannring should be re-
peated as above described every year. The
bed will need blowing between the rows and
hoeing early in the spring as soon as the
leaves are up. A plantation is good for about
FIVE yoars, when it should be dug up and re.
set if allowed to stand longer, the hill
spread about too much, making great mum.
her of small stalks, increasing the labor o.
tying up for market. Foul weeds, sorrel ant
couch grass will often work in too, so that al
old bed is usually Improbable after FIVE years
The only kind planted for market here il
the Victoria, as it is very much the best kind
producing enormous stalks, often eight ounces
each and three and one-half feet long. Tn,
product is truly astonishing, amounting tt
forty tons to the acre on well kept beds anC
| LII "a Ill G., tar l.ll tf,t
when plenty, and requires considerable labo
to prepare it for market, the crop is sure, anC
it is fairly profitable. A dozen hills will
suffice for any common family.
This plant is one that more surely than al
most any returns thankfully liberal applica
tions of the strongest kinds of manure an,
suffers Immediately from neglect. When on
few hills are to be cared for in the garden
the earth should be dug away from the crown
of the plant in the fall, and the excavation
filled up with manure; the result will appear
the next spring
Rhubarb is easily forced, so as to be il
condition to pull in February and March
The roots should be selected for forcing from
young plantation, that will be sure to throw
good large stalks; they should be dug up it
November and placed under cover in coo
cellar or pit for storage, and taken thence t,
the forcing pit about month or six week
b fore it is desired to pull the crop for use
Those having green houses can use any spar
room under the benches or in the furnace pi
for forcing rhubarb. 1t needs little or NJ
light, and temperature only little above
freezing; cellar having furnace in it fol
heating the house will answer we'll and give
a supply sufficient for the wants of family
the roots are placed in bed Of six inches o
horse manure, boards placed around them, an(
covered over with two inches of rich loan
The loan should be watered and kept con
stautly moist. After forcing, the roots ar,
so exhausted that they are worthless for field
planting, and should be thrown away Forced
rhubarb usually sells for good prices, ranging
from ten to twenty cents per pound w. ID.
PA2brick, in Country Gentleman.