THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



will grow in the immediate neighbourhood of the 

 root. 



A heavy mulch of rough litter should be applied 

 about the plants in the fall, and in the spring half 

 barrels or boxes may be turned over the plants and 

 fresh manure packed about them; this will much 

 advance the growth of the plants. Later, as the 

 weather grows warm, this may be removed and the 

 plants allowed to make a natural growth, but the 

 use of the barrels acts as a forcing house for early 

 stalks. 



Rhubarb is easily forced in a warm cellar. The 

 roots should be dug before the ground freezes and 

 left outside, lightly covered with soil and brought 

 into the cellar after they have been severely frozen. 

 For the best results, however, this should not be 

 done until about Christmas time, it will force better 

 then. A dark, warm cellar is necessary, and where 

 there is a heating plant, the furnace room will afford 

 an excellent location for their forcing, or roots may 

 be placed on the ground under the hot water or 

 steam pipes, where they run under the floors of 

 rooms under which there is no cellar. If a strip or 

 two of wood is nailed to the floor above the pipes, 



to which a heavy piece of duck or canvas can be 



[218] 



