Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-06-05
RHuBARs.
How This Escuicnt Is Grown and How II
,et.UH MAY be Forced.

How This Escuicnt Is Grown and How IL
,sN May be Forced.
This csculent, which really in its use
belongs among the fruits, is well known
as "pic-plant," and highly appreciated.
AS market product in the neighbor-
hood Of all cities, large quantity Is
grown, and sold at fairly remunerative
prices. Time was when an acre of rhu-
barb furnished living for a man and
family, and there was formerly in this
city, on tho sands north of Lincoln
Park, one of these productive patches
Rhubarb is Of the easiest possible cul-
turc, and persons who pretend to grow
anything for their own use, surely should
include it,as however readily and cheap
ly it may be purchased, it is seldom so
fresh and good as that plucked from
ones own garden. A dozen plants will
furnish an ample supply for an ordinary
family. II set out in spring it will give
good crop the following year. 1t be-
ing of the highest importance to- get it
as early in the spring as possible, very
rich and deep soil must be selected,
and If old nail kegs or half barrels
are set over n few plants, to
"draw up the stalks, it will be tenderer,
earlier, and of better flavor. For
market garden culture, the practice is
to manure piece of land very heavily;
one hundred tons to an acre for those
who can get it is not too much. The
manure is thoroughly mixed with the
coil f1 tho loDth rf oi oicrbtaa,, ,nnhao h,,
a subsoil plow. This may seem very
expensive process, but once planted, n
rhubarb bed will stand for several
years and require nothing more than
an occasional top dressing of manure,
which may be applied in spring or
autumn. The plants in such land will
require to be three feet apart each way,
and will take about 500 plants for an
acre. When bed has become worn
out, or if there is too great supply in
the market, part may be advan-
tageously forced for winter use. This
may be done in any place where a
temperature of from forty-five degrees
to sixty degrees can be maintained,
whether in shed-room or under the
greenhouse shelves. No particular
light is necessary for. the process.
Another plan is, two or three
weeks before spring opens, to
cover the crowns of the plants by
inverted barrels, filling in between with
leaves, manure, or any fermenting sub
stance. This will give very early cut
ting. We know of some large growers,
who force portion each year, in COM
monty constructed greenhouses, begin
ming say, in February. They thus ex.
tend their market from that time until
July, when small fruits drive rhubart
out of the market To do this, it is nee.
essary to make new plantation every
year, of as many stools as are designed
for forcing, so that the same sized plan.
tation is always in existence, the Oldest
being annually forced. The variety
called Linneus is the earliest, very fine
in flavor, and not quite so acid as the
Victoria, but the latter is mostly USED
by the market men. Very good result:
are obtained by raising from seeC
where plants can not readily be OBJ
tanned, but as the seed may not produce
all equally good, it is best to depend up
on plants. Every root with an eye il
capable of forming a plant. A roo
without an eye may live for years, bu
is incapable of forming what is calleC
an "adventitious bud," hence should b,
discarded Prairie Farmer