364 



VEGETABLE FORCING 



To avoid this loss, the plants should not be checked in 

 growth at any time. 



The commonest plan of blanching is to enclose the 

 plants with hard, durable paper. A 6-inch strip is 

 wrapped tightly around each plant just as soon as the 

 stems are large enough for the leaves to extend a few 

 inches above the top of the paper. About three weeks 

 later it is necessary to tie another strip of paper above 

 and around the same plant so that it overlaps the first 

 strip. 



DANDELION 



The dandelion (Fig. 128) is forced, to some extent, in 

 greenhouses for greens. It is quite an important frame 

 crop near Boston. Crowns are grown out of doors from 

 spring-sown seed and then planted in the greenhouse or 



Fig. 128. Dandelion being forced in a cheap house near Boston. 



in frames for forcing. The plants may be set 4 inches 

 by 8 inches apart. All that is necessary is to provide an 

 abundant and uniform supply of soil moisture and tem- 

 peratures which would be suitable for lettuce. Some- 

 times the crowns are set in inexpensive sash houses during 

 the fall, but the sash are not placed on the houses until 



