432 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



be inverted over them, to exclude the light, and to 

 blanch the foot-stalks, &c. One or two of these 

 boxes, filled and put into any of the Forcing Depart- 

 ments, at different periods, will produce a large 

 supply and succession of this vegetable, until it 

 appears in the open ground. 



Where there are no Hot-Houses, this plant may 

 also be accelerated in the natural ground by pla- 

 cing boxes over the roots, and covering them with 

 hot-dung or leaves, or a mixture of each, which will 

 soon produce a sufficient heat to excite the herb into 

 a vegetating state. 



Rhubarb may likewise be successfully grown on 

 beds, such as those described for the acceleration of 

 Asparagus, Sea-Kale, &c, and excited at an early 

 period with linings of dung, or leaves, applied between 

 the beds, when the roots will produce large crops an- 

 nually, without injury. Those grown in boxes should 

 be fresh planted every year with plants from one to 

 two years old ; and as soon as the crop of leaves is 

 over, these roots should be again divided and planted 

 in the open ground, when they will get established, 

 and be again fit for forcing. When a large suppply 

 of this vegetable is in demand, a little seed should 

 be sown annually, to keep up a good stock of young- 

 plants for acceleration. 



