306 SCHOOL AND HOME GAEDENS 



Planting. Loosen up the soil with a spading fork to a 

 depth of two feet, preparing a space two feet in diameter. 

 The earth should be at least one third well-rotted ma- 

 nure. Set the plants so that the buds will be two or 

 three inches below the surface, three feet apart. Give 

 each plant two gallons or more of water, so that the 

 fine soil will come immediately into close contact with 

 the roots. 



Culture. Cultivate during the entire summer, to retain 

 the moisture. Onions or some surface-feeding crop may 

 be set out near the plants, to pay for the labor of culti- 

 vating during the first year. 



Mulching. In the fall, cover the plants with a heavy 

 mulch of coarse manure, to prevent deep freezing. They 

 will live through the winter without the mulch, but will 

 yield stalks much earlier the next spring if it is applied. 

 Rake off the coarse material early in the season and fork 

 the fine material into the soil for humus and fertilization. 



Forcing. Force the plants by placing over them a 

 bottomless box or barrel. Pile a heavy coating of fresh 

 manure around it. 



Rhubarb may be forced in a cool cellar. Let the roots 

 freeze thoroughly for a month or more ; then take them 

 up and pack them in rich earth in the cellar. Cover the 

 plants three inches deep and keep them moist. When the 

 shoots appear, water more freely. 



If the roots used for forcing in a cellar are set in the 

 garden and given the usual attention, they will regain 

 strength for a crop in two years. 



