THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 229 



feet by removing sash and covering it with straw 

 and leaves, thus making very little heat necessary. 

 The house was perfectly dark. Rhubarb was 

 grown here that increased sales to $253.75. We 

 think 40 to 50 degrees better for rhubarb forcing 

 than a higher temperature. 



" Bear in mind that nearly all of this was sold 

 locally in a town with a population of about 9,000; 

 after the first few days we could have sold much 

 more had we had a larger population within our 

 reach. We now have about i]/ 2 acres in rhubarb, 

 but most of this is to produce roots for winter 

 forcing." 



RHUBARB FOR WINTER 



Few people realize that with comparatively little 

 trouble a bountiful supply of rhubarb for the ordi- 

 nary family may be had from the middle of January 

 until the outdoor product is available. 



Dig up a dozen or 15 crowns, at least two years 

 old, lifting as much of the root system as possible 

 without shaking off the soil. Do this before the 

 ground becomes frozen hard. Place the crowns on 

 some well-drained spot and cover slightly to pre- 

 vent their drying out, and allow them to freeze 

 solidly. When in this condition take them up and 

 place closely together in a dark corner of an ordi- 

 nary cellar or cave. Fill the spaces and cover to a 

 depth of 1 to 2 inches with any good garden soil, 

 then thoroughly wet down with water. If the 

 cellar is dry, one or two more waterings may be 

 necessary, but often the first one will be sufficient. 



In two to four weeks the stalks will be large 

 enough to use and the supply will continue from 

 the same crowns for two to three weeks. By 



