200 VEGETABLE FORCING 



open shed, where they are covered with straw or other 

 litter. When cold weather arrives, uncover the roots 

 and freeze them preparatory to planting. 



Planting. The roots are placed close together on a bed 

 of soil 2 or 3 inches deep. Care should be exercised that 

 all spaces between the roots are filled and the roots them- 

 selves covered with 2 or 3 inches of soil. The small bed 

 of plants shown in Fig. 63 was grown in hard coal ashes. 

 We have had just as good results with small lots in soft 

 coal ashes. It would seem that any medium, such as soil, 

 ashes, moss or sawdust, which would hold moisture for 

 the roots, would be satisfactory for forcing rhubarb. In 

 large cellars or buildings, narrow passageways or walks 

 should be left about every 5 feet for convenience in har- 

 vesting the crop. When a succession of stalks is desired, 

 new roots should be started at intervals of about a month, 

 depending on the rapidity with which the crop is forced. 

 There is less breakage and mutilation of the roots if they 

 are handled and planted while in a frozen condition. 



Watering. A thorough watering is given the beds im- 

 mediately after they are planted. The amount and fre- 

 quency of the applications, thereafter, will depend mainly 

 on the method of heating and the location of the beds 

 with regard to rapidity of evaporation. Ordinarily, the 

 beds do not need to be watered oftener than once or twice 

 a month. They should be kept moist, but over-watering 

 may be harmful by causing decay and soft stems. 



Temperature. Rhubarb begins to grow at a tempera- 

 ture slightly above freezing. A crop may be matured 

 when the temperature does not at any time rise above 45 

 degrees. Low temperatures are considered favorable to 

 high yields. Growth is very slow when the temperature 

 is under 50 degrees and a comparatively long time is 

 required to mature the entire crop. A temperature rang- 

 ing from 55 degrees to 60 degrees is ideal and that from 

 50 degrees to 55 degrees gives excellent results. If the 



