382 VEGETABLE FORCING 



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vegetables is adapted to culture under glass throughout 

 the forcing period. This factor in itself is a strong 

 argument in favor of growing more than one crop. It is 

 not unusual, however, to find a grower, operating in a 

 comparatively small establishment, growing one crop, 

 often tomatoes or cucumbers, for 10 or 11 months of the 

 year. 



Succession cropping is popular .with a majority of 

 American greenhouse growers. At least 90 per cent of 

 them believe that the largest profits may be realized by 

 growing either two or three crops. Lettuce is the 

 favorite crop during the late fall and winter, when there 

 is so much dull, cloudy weather. Tomatoes and cu- 

 cumbers generally do well early in the fall, but they 

 are much more successful in the spring and early sum- 

 mer. 



Succession cropping plans. The following are the 

 most important succession cropping plans for the entire 

 forcing season, beginning September 1 and continuing 

 until August 15 of the next year : 



(1) Three or four crops of lettuce followed by cu- 

 cumbers. 



(2) Three or four crops of lettuce followed by tomatoes. 



(3) One crop of tomatoes or cucumbers, one or two 

 crops of lettuce and one crop of tomatoes or cucumbers. 



Various other plans of succession cropping are less 

 common. Among them may be mentioned the following: 

 Lettuce, cauliflower and tomatoes or cucumbers ; cauli- 

 flower, radish and tomatoes or cucumbers; radish, two 

 crops lettuce and tomatoes or cucumbers. 



The cool crops of minor importance, such as spinach, 

 beet, carrot, cress, mint, swiss chard, etc., may be used in 

 the rotation, any time during the fall, winter and early 

 spring. 



Companion cropping. Companion cropping in green- 

 house culture is not so common, although used to a con- 



