Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-02-16
,,g;3.9,j|'R MEH
FiEL .DaNp GARDEN
cElLAR GROWN RHuBARB.

An Account of % Little known but
increasing Enterprise.
An enterprise concerning which the
agricultural press is having somewhat
to say of late is that Of forcing rhubarb
A correspondent of The Rural New
Yorker thinks this growing enterprise
has come to stay and viii prove rich
harvest to the gardeners and farmers
especially of the north to the garden
ers because so few edibles can be grown
successfully during the long winter ex-
cept by the costly methods of glass cul-
ture; to the farmer because of the in
creasing demand for the roots, which
will require more space for the growing
than the gardeners can well devote to
the work. This writer 5 account of the
product and the manner of securing it
is substantially as follows:
The dark grown product is far and
away superior in quality, color and
weld to that grown under greenhouse
benches or in ordinary hotbeds under
glass. The latter especially grows as
much leaf as stalk. while that grown in
the dark has little or no leaf and is SO
much less trouble and expense that
wherever this method is practiced it
will become the favorite.
In blowing out and preparing the
roots for the cellar line or mark is
made with shovel along the row for
guide to the plow The pillow is run as
deeply as possible and close to the row,
turning the furrow away and cutting
off all the prongs possible, taking care
not to injure the stocks. In turning the
next furrow the pillow runs behind and
under the roots, turning them up to the
surface, when with a sharp shovel or
spade the remaining prongs are removed
and the stock nicely trimmed up They
are then left undisturbed until well
frozen, when they are removed to the
cellar.
If thawing should occur before re-
noval to the cellar, it will do no HARM
but experience proves that best results
can be obtained only by thorough freez-
ing before placing in the cellar. There
is, however, a decided advantage in
placing them in the cellar while frozen
as the soil adheres to the stocks SO much
better, and less labor is required in set
ting. If the soil where the roots are
grown is sandy or very dry when the
roots are plowed out, so that but little
soil adheres, more care will be neces-
sary in setting in the cellar as the soil
must in that case be well worked under
and between the roots, and watering to
some extent will doubtless be beneficial.
If plowed out and nicely trimmed and
set into the cellar with all the soil adj
herring, they win need little or no fill
ing up, and much labor will be saved.
If one has but few roots to handle,
they can be turned out with the spade,
and one need not hesitate to begin with
four or five roots and few feet of
space in the cellar shut off from the
rest. With this small beginning suffi
cient can be grown for family use for
the entire winter, and the experience
gained win be so much stock in trade
for future operations. So no family
need be deprived of this luxury.
Frost and light, except artificial,
must be strenuously kept out of the
place of growing, but lamp or fire light
as much as desired for working or heat
ing purposes viii do no harm. If no
cellar or shed is available, one may be
quickly and cheaply constructed of
boards or plank, with straw, manure
and earth sufficient to keep out the
frost and water Excavate to any depth
desired or build entirely above ground,
governing the space by the number of
roots to be set in, only remembering
that each root viii require about one
square foot, with additional room for
working and any heating apparatus de-
sired, as lamps, oil or gasoline stoves.
The temperature may be governed
entirely by circumstances and results
sought. If only for home use, it is well
to have some heat until large enough for
use, after which very little if any will
be required, and the season of growing
will thus be prolonged In growing for
the market, where large and quick re-
turns are desired, a high temperature
will be required This will of course
shorten the season of production, as the
roots are capable of doing only GER
tain amount before period of rest is
required.