Rhubarb. 293 



covered deeply with litter, or with boxes, baskets, or tubs, which 

 are banked up and covered with litter. It is obvious, however, 

 that no great quantity can be economically forced in this 

 manner. To do the work profitably the roots should be planted 

 closer together, say 2ft. each way, in double rows with 5ft. 

 spaces between. Soon after the turn of the year fix boards 

 at each side of the beds and take out a trench, 1ft. wide and a 

 spit deep, along the outside of each board. Then put hot 

 manure in the trenches and bank it up to the top of the 

 boards, then cover the bed over in the manner described 

 for hot-beds in the preceding paragraph. When the forced 

 crop has been gathered the boards are removed, the manure 

 spread, the alleys dug and levelled and planted with summer 

 crops. The Rhubarb should then be allowed to grow as it will, 

 without further pulling, and the bed will last for several years 

 without renewal. 



A few years ago handsome profits were made in connection 

 with this industry, but under the stress of ever-increasing 

 competition the margin of profit has become narrower, and it 

 behoves the grower who enters upon the business to carefully 

 study ways and means. By judicious planning many suitable 

 places for forcing Rhubarb can usually be found on most 

 holdings, and a special expenditure on buildings or appliances 

 thus avoided. On the other hand, labour is the most expensive 

 item, and it may pay better, by saving labour, to do the forcing 

 in close proximity to, or even directly upon, the ground where 

 the roots are grown. Of one thing we may be sure, it will 

 not pay to produce a partial crop or one of indifferent quality 

 from the same space and with the same expenditure of labour 

 which might and ought to have produced a good crop. Com- 

 plete and not partial success must be striven for, and whilst in 

 Rhubarb forcing this goal is not difficult of attainment, it can 

 only be arrived at in this as in other things, by a careful and 

 thorough attention to details. 



Manures : Abundant supplies of well-decayed farmyard 

 manure are necessary in Rhubarb culture, and it is far better 

 not to embark in the business at all than to grow the stunted 

 and starved plants which one sees occasionally. Rhubarb is a 

 rank grower, and when it is remembered that for many weeks 



