2l8 



account, but does not usually give such strong, 

 vigorous plants as direct propagation from the seed. 

 Under permanent field conditions the crowns should 

 be planted in rows four feet wide and the plants 

 from three to four feet apart in the rows. Thorough 

 tillage throughout the entire season is important in 

 order that the early succulent leaf stalks gathered 

 for market may be as large and tender as possible. 

 Late cultivation is also necessary in order that the 

 largest possible amount of reserve food may be 

 stored in the roots for the coming season's growth. 

 It is highly important that the production of seed 

 be prevented by the removal of the seed stalks as 

 they appear from time to time. Profitable forcing 

 of the rhubarb may be carried on in the following 

 manner. Preferably two-year-old crowns are lifted 

 from the field in the fall of the year and closely 

 packed on the surface of the soil out of doors, 

 being covered with an inch or two of soil to 

 prevent drying until severely frozen. The crowns 

 may then be brought into the cellar or forcing 

 houses where temperature and moisture may be 

 controlled. Growth starts rapidly, and harvesting 

 may be begun from four to six weeks later. Forc- 

 ing in dark rooms or cellars is a common practice. 

 Under these conditions the leaf blade fails to de- 

 velop, while the stalk makes a larger growth and 

 is of a distinctively better quality. The crowns 

 may be brought in from the open from time to time 

 as desired, in this manner producing a continuous 

 succession throughout the entire late winter and 

 early spring. A temperature of from 40 to 60° is 

 usually considered best for the crowns after forcing 

 begins. Higher temperatures give quicker results, 

 but spindly and unsatisfactory stalks. In any case 



