POPULAR VARIETIES OP GARDEN VEGETABLES. 



209 



Very Short Scarlet; G, Half-Long Scarlet Stump-Eooted; 7, Altringham; 8, 

 Half-Long Scarlet. 



CHICORY. 



Chicory is used in Europe as a salad plant. Seed is sown in the spring, in 

 drills half an inch deep, in a good, mellow soil; and the after-culture is the 

 same as for carrots. In the autumn, the plants will be ready 

 for blanching. This is generally done by placing a box over 

 them, or by tying the tops of the leaves loosely together, and 

 drawing the earth well up to the plant. The greatest value of 

 chicory is as a substitute for cofiee. It has a root something 

 like a parsnip. They are washed clean, cut into pieces that 

 will dry readily, kiln-dried, and then they are ready to roast 

 and grind for coffee. The prepared root is brought from Eu- 

 rope for the adulteration of coffee. An ounce of seed will sow 

 about one hundred feet of drill, and from two to three pounds 

 are required for an acre. The second season the chicory sends 

 up a flower stem three or four feet, bearing pretty, bright blue flowers, 

 which we have shown about half size in the engraving. It is so hardy there is 

 danger it may become a troublesome weed, as it flourishes on the road-sides and 

 in meadows in many places. 



CELERY. 



Celery is a luxury that few would like to dispense with, and fortunately 

 there is no necessity for such a sacrifice, as every one who has control of a few feet 

 of ground, with a little skill and industry, can grow a winter's sup- 

 ply. To obtain good celery, it is necessary that the plants should be 



strong and well grown. Sow the seeds 

 in a hot-bed or cold-frame. When 

 yi_^ the plants are about three inches in 

 ^^ height, transplant to a nicely-pre- 

 pared bed in the border, setting them 

 about four or five inches apart. When 

 some eight inches high, and good 

 stocky plants, set them in the trenches 

 — about the middle of July is early 

 enough. Too many make trenches 

 by digging out the top soil, and only 

 putting a few inches of mold at the 

 bottom, and never obtain good celery. 

 The trenches should contain at least 

 eighteen inches of good soil and well 

 rotted manure, in about equal pro- 

 portions. Take off all suckers and 

 straggling leaves at the time of trans- 

 _ planting. Earth up a little during 



the summer, keeping the ieat stalks close together, so that the soil cannot get 

 between them ; and duririg September and October earth up well for blanch- 

 ing. Those who grow celery for market extensively do not use trenches, but 

 make the soil deep and rich, and plant in rows, earthing up with the plow. 

 The time to take up celery is just before hard frost. Dig a trench about the 

 width of a spade and a few inches deeper than the height of the celery. The 

 place selected must be high ground, where no water will be at the bottom, and 

 27 



