176 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



siderable size ; accordingly, the divided stools must be 

 planted with ample room between them, say three feet, 

 all ways. Stalks should not be pulled the first season 

 from stools that have been cut, but left to die down. This 

 will provide for strong rich growth the second and 

 succeeding seasons. 



All rhubarb beds need copious supplies of liquid 

 manure in the late spring and summer and, in autumn, the 

 ground should be carefully forked and stable manure 

 worked in. 



Forced rhubarb is a delicacy from Christmas until the 

 outdoor supplies are ready in spring. In October take 

 half a dozen well martued crowns and pack them in a 

 stout box with good soil all round. Place the box in a 

 cupboard near the kitchen fireplace, on the pipes of the 

 heated greenhouse, or anywhere where they can obtain 

 gentle but constant warmth. If the chosen situation is 

 not dark (i.e., the darkness provided by a cupboard is 

 sufficient), place an upturned box over the roots. Pro- 

 vide moisture by means of sprinklings of warm water 

 every second day, and give supplies of liquid manure 

 weekly. Afterwards throw the stools away as, when 

 used for forcing, they are almost spent. 



An early supply may be grown out of doors by placing 

 an old tub, pail, or box over the crowns and banking 

 straw around it. A good mulching of manure will con- 

 siderably hasten growth. 



Seakale is cultivated on much the same lines as 

 rhubarb, but the best supplies are always grown in dark- 

 ness. Crops raised from seed take too long to mature ; 



