Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-08-21
l., FORCING VEGETABLES.
Leading Varieties That Are of Com
snerciaI Importance.

snerciai Importance.
Nearly all the vegetables are forced
to greater or less extent, but only
four, radishes. lettuce. tomatoes and
cucumbers, have assumed much com
mercial Importance. All vegetables
which are forced are classed undergone
or two groups-cool or warm plants.
This grouping is determined by the
relative amount Of heat the vegetables
require TO secure the best results. or
the four vegetables just mentioned
two. radIshes snd lettuce, belong to
ihe cool plants. while the tomato and
cucumber belong to the warm plants
Cool crops require temperature OF 40
to 40 degrees at night and of 50 to G5
degrees during the day.
Soil For Forcing Houses.
Soils differ so much for the various
crops that no definite statement can be
made which will cover all. Lettuce,
particularly the heading sorts. is very
exacting In this regard. A soil which
holds goodly supply of moisture with
out baking or pudding is necessary
One which retains water In excessive
amounts in the upper inch OF soil Is
conducive TO the lettuce rot, the worst
pest which infests this crop. Non
heading sorts are less influenced by
soil. A good garden loan. with a lila
eral supply. say one-fourth to one-thlrd
well rotted stable manure, produces
very good results. Radishes demand
more sandy soil and yet one which
is retentive of moisture.
Watering Greenhouse Crops.
Watering is one of the most impor-
tant factors In growing crops under
glass. The great tendency is TO water
too often. If the soil Is kept in n
proper condition OF filth the upper sur
face of a bench may appear dry while
the soil an inch deeper may contain a
sufficient amount Of moisture to an
swer the requirements of the plants.
II water is given too frequently the
soil Is kept damp and soggy, air is ex-
Guided and the plants suffer as much
as, If not more than, If they were al
lowed to show slightly the effects of
the lack Of moisture before Il Is given.
We make a practice of soaking the
Denches thoroughly when we apply
water and then let them 30 for a pc
riOd before giving a further supply In
this way we have been able to bring a
bench of lettuce into marketable con-
dition by the use OF three applications
Of water. With bottom heat II is posi-
BILE to have the bottom soil OF a bench
dry and the surface soil quite moist
Crops That Require Most Care.
The warm crops. tomatoes and Gu
cumbers, require more attention than
the cool crops Their temperature re-
qurement is from 60 to 60 degrees at
night and IS TO So degrees during the
day Bottom heat is necessary for the
profitable production Of either. yenti-
late whenever the temperature reaches
so degrees or above.
In soil requirements neither Is as ex.
acting as head lettuce A rich garden
loan, three parts garden soil and one
part well rotted manure. answers the
purpose well. AS soon as the plant
comes into bearing liberal quantities
of liquid manure are applied after the
benches have been thoroughly watered
This manure is prepared by placing
one bushel of fresh COW manure in a
barrel and then filling the barrel with
water This fertilizer should be APP
piled at intervals of ten days.-Profess-
or ]. G. Moore Before Wisconsin Hor.
ticultural Society.