Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-05-08
FORCING VEGETABLES.
Leading Varieties That Are Of Com.
merciaI Importance.


Nearly all the vegetables are forced
to n 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 under one
or two groups-cOol or warm plants.
This grouping Is determined 10y the
relative amount OF heat the vegetables
require TO secure the best results OF
the four vegetables just mentioned
two, radishes and lettuce. belong to
ihe cool plants. while the tomato and
cucumber belong 10 the warm plants.
Cool crops require temperature OF 40
10 40 degrees at night and of - 10 ~
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
exscting in this regard A soil which
holds goodly supply OF moisture with
out baking or pudding il 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 n lih-
oral supply. say one. fourth Ia onethird
well rotted stable manure. produces
very good results. Radishes dems nd
q more andy soil and yet one which
n retent.ve Of moisture
Wst~vi.s cvseshsuss Crops.
Watering 10 one Of the most impor-
tant factors in growing crops under
gsass. The great tendency 10 to water
too often. II the soil 10 Kept IN q
proper condition Of tith the upper sur
face Of . bench may appear dry while
the soil 10 Inch deeper may contain .
sumeient amount Of moisture to an
swer rbe requirements OF the plants.
If water 10 given too frequently the
sol q kept damp and sogRy. air 10 en-
eluded and the plants suffer ~ much
ss, II not more Than. " 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
benches thoroughly when we apply
water and then let them 20 for n pc
Rod before giving a further supply. In
this way we have been able 10 bring
bench OF lettuce into a marketable con
dltion by the use Of three applications
OF water With bottom heat IL is posi-
hla IN have tho hOffom soil ~ "A hpucl
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-
quirement is from 60 TO 6J degrees at
night and 80 to 50 degrees during the
day. Bottom heat is necessary for the
profitable production Of either. Vent
late whenever the temperature reaches
80 degrees or above
In soil requirements neither is rs cS-
acting as head lettuce \ 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 10y placing
one bushel OF fresh COW manure In
barrel and then filling the barrel with
water. This fertilizer should be ap-
piled at intervals Of ten Profess
or ]. G. Moore Before Wisconsin Hor-
ticultural Society.