200 VEGETABLE FORCING 
open shed, where they are covered with straw or other 
litter. When cold weather arrives, uncover the roots 
and freeze them preparatory to planting. 
Planting.—The roots are placed close together on a bed 
of soil 2 or 3 inches deep. Care should be exercised that 
all spaces between the roots are filled and the roots them- 
selves covered with 2 or 3 inches of soil. The small bed 
of plants shown in Fig. 63 was grown in hard coal ashes. 
We have had just as good results with small lots in soft 
coal ashes. It would seem that any medium, such as soil, 
ashes, moss or sawdust, which would hold moisture for 
the roots, would be satisfactory for forcing rhubarb. In 
large cellars or buildings, narrow passageways or walks 
should be left about every 5 feet for convenience in har- 
vesting the crop. When a succession of stalks is desired, 
new roots should be started at intervals of about a month, 
depending on the rapidity with which the crop is forced. 
There is less breakage and mutilation of the roots if they 
are handled and planted while in a frozen condition. 
Watering.—A thorough watering is given the beds im- 
mediately after they are planted. The amount and fre- 
quency of the applications, thereafter, will depend mainly 
on the method of heating and the location of the beds 
with regard to rapidity of evaporation. Ordinarily, the 
beds do not need to be watered oftener than once or twice 
a month. They should be kept moist, but over-watering 
may be harmful by causing decay and soft stems. 
Temperature.—Rhubarb begins to grow at a tempera- 
ture slightly above freezing. A crop may be matured 
when the temperature does not at any time rise above 45 
degrees. Low temperatures are considered favorable to 
high yields. Growth is very slow when the temperature 
is under 50 degrees and a comparatively long time is 
required to mature the entire crop. A temperature rang- 
ing from 55 degrees to 60 degrees is ideal and that from 
50 degrees to 55 degrees gives excellent results. If the 
