188 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



or three-year-old plants that have been grown especially for 

 the purpose are generally used. No rhubarb should be 

 pulled during the summer from plants that are to be forced 

 in winter. 



Still another way of forcing rhubarb is by putting 

 a cold frame over the plants in the early spring where 

 they are growing in the open ground. This method 

 may be improved by heavily mulching the plants so 

 as to keep out the frost in winter. The roots are 

 sometimes lifted in autumn, planted close together in 

 a deep cold frame, and covered with leaves to keep 

 out frost. In March the leaves are removed and the 

 sashes put on. This method has the advantage of using 

 the sashes to the best advantage, but roots that are dug 

 and then forced are worthless for further planting. In 

 order to increase the length of the stalks it is a common 

 practice where but a small amount is grown to put headless 

 barrels over each plant in the spring when the leaves are 

 starting into growth, and in striving to reach the light 

 the leaf stalks naturally grow long and tender. The 

 growth of rhubarb treated in this way may be has- 

 tened if heating manure is piled about the barrel. An old 

 sash laid over the barrel is an improvement on this method. 



Rhubarb is always forced in the dark, since this allows 

 the formation of but a very small leaf. For home use a 

 hill may be dug late in the autumn and stored in a cool 

 place until about the time rhubarb is wanted, when it 

 may be placed in a warm cellar, covered with dirt, and 

 watered. It soon will give a supply of tender shoots. 



Varieties. There are several varieties, but the follow- 

 ing kinds are the most highly esteemed: 



Myatt's Linneus, an early sort having deep green 

 stalks and attaining to a large size. 



