396 Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



In six weeks to two months after the plants are turned into their 

 permanent quarters, they will be ready to bleach, and this operation 

 has caused us more trouble than all other difficulties combined. 

 Our first thought was to set the plants very close together so that 

 they would bleach themselves, after the manner of the " New Celery 

 Culture," but it would not work. The plants ran too much to 

 foliage and they tended to damp-off or rot where they were too 

 close. We next tried darkening the house, but without success. 

 We then attempted to bleacb the plants by partially burying them 

 in sand in a cellar, but this also failed. Finally, we tried various 

 methods of tying up or enclo&ing each midwinter plant as it stood 

 in the bed. Tiles placed about the plants — which are so successful 

 in the field — rotted the plants in the moist air of the forcing-house. 

 Heavy bibulous paper did the same. But thick, hard wrapping 

 paper, with an almost " sized " surface, proved to be an admirable 

 success. The stalks were brought together and tied, and a width of 

 paper reaching to within two or three inches of the tips of the 

 leaves, was rolled tightly about the plant. As tbe plant grew, 

 another width of paper was rolled about the first, and again reach- 

 ing nearly the top of the plant. Two applications of the paper are 

 sufficient. A month to six weeks is required to bleach the celery by 

 this process in a cool house in April and May. Fig. 71 shows the 

 method of bleaching with the paper. 



The seeds for our last crop of hou/5e celery were sown December 

 10, 189-1 ; picked off January 8tli ; planted in beds, February Otli ; 

 first tied up in paper, April 12th ; second tying. May 9th ; celery 

 fit to use. May 21st to June 20th. The Kalamazoo celery is well 

 adapted to house cultivation. The quality of this house-grown 

 product is equal to that grown in the field. 



CRESS m WINTER. 



Persons who are fond of water-cress should know that no plant 

 is easier to grow under benches in greenhouses. If there is an 

 earth floor under the benches of a cool or intermediate bouse, the 

 plant will take care of itself when once introduced, provided, of 

 course, there is sufficient moisture. Fig. 72 shows a mat of water- 

 cress growing under a bench in a general conservatory house, near 

 the overflow of a tank. It is not necessary to supply water in 

 which the plant may grow, but it thrives well, with its characteristic 



