CHAPTER XIII 

 RHUBARB 



The forcing of rhubarb is similar in many respects to 

 the forcing of asparagus, which has been treated in Chap- 

 ter XII. There are essential differences, however, that 

 make a separate discussion necessary. 



Importance. The forcing of rhubarb is much more gen- 

 eral and extensive than the forcing of asparagus. There 

 are many large houses devoted to this purpose, and 

 hundreds of truckers, market gardeners and even farmers 

 find it profitable to grow more or less rhubarb when out- 

 of-door plants are not producing. 



The growing of rhubarb in cellars and basements for 

 the home table and perhaps a small surplus for market is 

 particularly satisfactory. Just a little nook or corner will 

 grow all that a family can use. The plants themselves, 

 grown in subdued light, are very beautiful and their 

 aesthetic value appeals to the amateur. 



Quality. The city consumer as well as the gardener 

 who supplies his own table soon discovers that forced 

 rhubarb is superior in quality to that grown in the open 

 where the plants receive full light. The forcing of this 

 crop is nearly always conducted in partial darkness, but 

 sometimes all light is excluded. Whether grown in total 

 darkness or in partial light, the quality is materially 

 affected. In texture the forced stalks are unusually crisp 

 and tender on account of the development of less woody 

 fiber. The skin is very thin and tender and does not 

 separate readily from the stems. Rhubarb forced in 

 partial light contains 8 to 10 per cent more water than 

 that grown out of doors in full light, so that the proportion 

 of acid is less than when the stalks are grown in the open, 



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