344 



Glass 



212. Forwarding of 

 rhubarb in the field. 



refuse, to prevent the ground from freezing. When it 

 is desired to start the plants, the covering is removed 

 from both the inside and outside of the box, and hot 

 manure is piled around the box to its 

 top. If the weather is still cold, dry 

 light leaves or straw may be placed 

 inside the box, or a pane or sash of 

 glass may be placed on top of the box, 

 to answer the purpose of a coldframe. 

 Ehubarb, asparagus, sea-kale and simi- 

 lar plants may be advanced two to four 

 weeks by this method of forcing. 

 Some gardeners use old barrels or half-barrels in place of 

 the box. The box, however, is better and handier, and 

 the sides can be stored for future use. 



Plants that require a long season and which do not 

 transplant readily, as melons and cucumbers, may be 

 planted in forcing-hills in the field. One of these hills 

 is shown in Fig. 213. The frame or mold is shown at 

 the top. This mold is a box 

 with flaring sides and no 

 top or bottom, and provided 

 with a handle. This mold 

 is placed with the small end 

 down at the point where the 

 seeds are to be planted, and 

 the earth is hilled up about 

 it and firmly packed with 

 the feet. The mold is then withdrawn, and a pane of glass 

 is laid on the top of the mound to concentrate the sun^s 

 rays, and to prevent the bank from washing down with the 



213. The making of an elevated 

 forcing-hill. 



