145 RECORD 



YIELDS 



frost, maintaining a small degree of heat, and a 

 little regular attention. 



Although specially constructed forcing cellars 

 are desirable for large crops, Mr. Morse tells of 

 a rhubarb patch, 36x54 feet, in a house cellar 

 which gave $144 in returns. It was partitioned 

 from the rest of the cellar, kept perfectly dark 

 and heated by two ordinary kerosene house lamps 

 with chimneys smoked to prevent them lighting 

 the patch. The light from even a small lamp will 

 bleach the stalks near it. It requires little ferti- 

 lizer, heat or moisture, so that there is no disagree- 

 able odor in the cellar where grown, if the roots 

 are taken up as soon as the forcing season is 

 over.* 



As forced rhubarb requires little soil, even a 

 cellar with a cement floor can be used, two or 

 three inches of earth on the surface being suffi- 

 cient. Rhubarb is a hardy northern native, and 

 does not thrive in warm countries. The best re- 

 sults are obtained if the roots are frozen before 



* The expense of building forcing-cellars varies with their size, 

 but need not be great, especially if old lumber is used. From 

 such a cellar, 12 x 50 feet, the returns for one winter amounted 

 to more than $160.00. 



