292 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



f 

 Lifted roots usually occupy, after trimming, a space of from 



9in. to 1ft. square. They are packed as closely together as 

 they will stand on a few inches of moist soil, and similar soil is 

 worked into the spaces between them, up to the level of the 

 crowns. Where the prevailing temperature is too low, the 

 necessary warmth may be supplied by slow combustion 

 stoves or petroleum heaters, both of which have been used 

 successfully, though provision must be made for the escape of 

 noxious fumes and the maintenance of a moist atmosphere. 

 The heat should be kept as steadily as possible between 55 

 and 60 degrees, though no harm has resulted when it has 

 risen as high as 80 or fallen as low as 40 degrees. The soil 

 about the roots should be kept in a nicely moist but not wet 

 condition. Thin useless stalks should be removed as soon as 

 seen, so as not to waste the energy of the root. The stalks 

 should be gathered immediately they are ready or they soon 

 become soft and spongy. When production begins to decline 

 the roots should be removed to a place where they will be 

 protected from frost, and will then be available for making 

 new plantations in the spring. Two or three crops in succession 

 can be forced in the season. No ventilation is needed beyond 

 that which is given when attending to or gathering the crop. 



When forcing on hot-beds, a trench is made about 4ft. wide 

 and 2ft. deep. In this, warm manure or other fermenting 

 material is placed about 18in. deep, and after the heat has 

 worked through it is well trodden down and covered with Sin. 

 of soil. Rough boards, 2ft. high at the front and 3ft. at the 

 back, are fixed round the bed and the roots put inside. The 

 outsides are banked up with hot manure, and the top covered 

 with wooden shutters or corrugated iron, on which a few inches 

 of litter is put to keep out the frost. Very good Rhubarb is 

 produced by this method. A second crop may be taken from 

 these beds if the manure in the trench is well shaken up and 

 a little fresh strawey manure added to renew the fermentation ; 

 fresh linings of manure must also be put outside. A modifica- 

 tion of the above method is to omit the boards, cover the 

 crowns with 18in. of litter, and over all put hoops of willow 

 branches and mats. 



When forcing the roots where they grow, the crowns are 



