GARDEN YARD ^^^ 



steam forced through trenches, or they may be 

 in specially constructed forcing houses; or, sim- 

 plest of all, they may be in the house cellar, 

 even though the floor be of concrete. 



Rhubarb requires but little moistiu-e and when 

 it is being forced, it need not go deep to find its 

 food, if the soil it has is rich enough. Three 

 inches of earth will give it all the hold it needs, 

 and if the Ught is completely excluded, the growth 

 will all go to stalk. 



If you have a cellar bed, screen it off from 

 the rest of the cellar so that no light can reach 

 it; a small kerosene-oil lamp with a chimney 

 that has been thoroughly smoke-blackened, will 

 give all the heat necessary to start growth. 

 The stalks begin to shoot up looking for light 

 and wfll do almost nothing in the way of 

 leaf-growth because of its lack. In this way 

 the whole energy of the plant is diverted into 

 profit-making stalks.* The roots that have been 

 forced for the Christmas market cannot be used 

 again the following season. They need a sea- 

 son's rest. (Read J. E. Morse's "New Rhu- 

 barb Culture.") 



But this absence of leaf, which is so desirable 



* Note. — You can get long stalks in the garden by putting a small 

 cask, or half-barrel, with the ends knocked out, over the plant. 

 The stalks will grow to the top and blanch some while growing. 



