78 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



about seven weeks to mature a crop groAvn in a temperature of 60° 

 to 65° at night and 70° to 75° day temperature. The bench system 

 is my preference, as there is not so much labor and attention re- 

 quired, and results are equal, if not better than other methods. 

 Plant in rows across the bench eighteen inches apart and the beans 

 about two inches apart in the rows, or probably the better way to 

 make sure of a good even crop is to sow more seed in the rows than 

 is necessary, then if all the seed germinates thin out to about two 

 inches. One of the worse enemies to be dreaded is the red spider. 

 If that once gets started it spreads rapidly. Moisture and hght 

 spraying is the remedy. Like every other crop it needs careful 

 airing or mildew will make its appearance. In fact when mildew 

 once attacks the foliage it checks the growth severely. Black 

 Valentine, Wonder of France, Sutton's Forcing, and Sutton's 

 Perfection are all adapted for forcing purposes. 



Rhubarb. 



I do not consider the forcing list complete without rhubarb. 

 There is considerable demand for this wholesome vegetable both 

 private and commercially. It rec[uires very little attention; the 

 main secret is if the roots are dug for forcing they should get a 

 thorough freezing before they are taken into the forcing house. 

 Also leave as much of the soil adhering to the roots as possible. 

 These roots may be forced successfully in the mushroom house or 

 under the tomato house bench setting the roots close together, and 

 filling in the hollow spaces between them with soil or leaf mould — 

 anything to hold moisture. Every two weeks a fresh supply of 

 crowns may be brought in according to demands. 



Greenhouse vegetable forcing has got to be one of the important 

 branches of our profession and appeals readily to the consumer as 

 it is not subjected to extreme temperature as our early garden 

 vegetables are at times. The results are that greenhouse vegeta- 

 bles are tender and can be appreciated by all. 



