2000 



The Cornell Reading Courses 



width may be substituted for the boards and may be held in place by 

 a U-shaped arch, which is pushed into the soil (Fig. 167). On a small 



Fig. 167. — Blanching celery with paper. Boards may be similarly used 



scale, tile or cylinders of paper may be used (Fig. 168). These may be 



slipped over the plant and a small amount of soil pressed up around the 



base in order to shut out all sunlight. 

 Earth is generally used for blanch- 

 ing late celery. The soil is first 

 brought around the plants, in a ridge 

 about three inches high; four or five 

 days later it is pushed up about an 

 inch higher; in another four or five 

 days it is pushed still higher; and so 

 on until it covers very nearly all of 

 the celery. It is important not to 

 get the dirt inside of the celery hearts. 

 The celery should be inspected very 

 carefully for rust, for it is not advis- 

 able to blanch with dirt if rust is 

 present. If the celery is to be stored 

 and used during January, February, 

 or March, one week of shading by 

 means of low banking, about six to 

 nine inches high, will start the 



blanching just enough. Celery will keep better and longer if in a green 



condition. 



Fig. 168. — Blanching celery with a tile. 

 A paper cylinder may be used in the 

 same way 



