RHUBARB 



195 



As previously stated, a common plan is to utilize space 

 under greenhouse benches for the forcing of rhubarb. 

 The success of this plan will be determined largely by 

 the temperature which must be maintained for other 

 crops in the house. See page 163. Occasionally the beds 

 or benches are used for rhubarb, but that space is re- 

 garded as more valuable for other crops which require 

 more exacting conditions of heat, light and moisture. 



Manure hotbeds are largely employed by market gar- 

 deners for this purpose. It is not necessary to have a 



Fig. 64. Rhubarb growing in coldframe. 



depth of more than 18 inches to 2 feet of manure, unless 

 the climate is very severe. In mild sections a foot of hot 

 manure will be adequate to force the crop. Pits, caves 

 and cellars of various descriptions are used. Small pits 

 and cellars are sometimes heated with lamps or stoves. 

 Steam or hot water, however, is always preferable, 

 though good results may be had with stoves. 



There are many cheaply constructed, commercial 

 rhubarb houses. (Fig. 66.) Sometimes these struc- 

 tures are several hundred feet long and 15 feet or 

 more in width. They may be built as sheds along the 



