18 The Bulletin. 



are pruned. The plants are set 6 inches apart in rows 4 or 5 feet 

 apart, or 6 inches apart each way in double rows 5 or 6 feet apart, 

 depending upon the method of blanching. The newly set plants will 

 need shade. This may be supplied by planting a row of cowpeas on 

 either side of the intended celery row three or four weeks before trans- 

 planting the celery, or planting the celery between com rows. The 

 corn stalks may later be cut down and piled alongside the rows for 

 blanching the celery. In the home garden boards may be used for 

 shading the newly set plants. 



In all the methods of blanching the object sought is to exclude the 

 light. This may be done by use of boards, drain tiles, or soil — more 

 often the latter. Boards are usually used for blanching celery planted 

 in double rows. When the plants have attained a fair size, gather 

 the leaves in an upright position and draw enough soil around them to 

 bank them up. From time to time the earth is ridged higher as the 

 plants continue to grow. When the weather becomes cold and growth 

 ceases the celery may be covered completely, or it may be taken up 

 and stored in a cellar or well-drained trench covered with boards, with 

 the plants standing upright in a few inches of soil. 



Varieties : 



White Plume. — Small and early ; stalks small, crisp, solid, and 

 white. Poor keeper. 



Golden Self-Blanching. — Early; plants very large and stocky; 

 stalks crisp, golden yellow, excellent quality; blanches readily; exten- 

 sively planted. 



Fin de Siecle. — Stalks large, crisp, and good quality; fall and win- 

 ter ; stands drought well ; good keeper. 



Giant Pascal. — Large, very late variety; stalks large, crisp, and 

 finest flavor; stalks remain crisp long time; one of the best very late 

 varieties. 



Winter Queen. — Stalks large, stocky, and good quality. Retains 

 flavor well. Very hardy and good keeper. 



CUCUMBERS. 



Cucumbers are grown as a commercial truck crop in four different 

 ways: first, in frames for early market; second, in the open field for 

 later market; third, for pickling purposes, and, fourth, by forcing 

 under glass. The first two methods are the ones we will discuss more 

 particularly. The soils and fertilizers for these two methods are essen- 

 tially the same. 



The selection of soils for growing early cucumbers is important. 

 While they can be raised on various types of soils, the one best adapted 

 to their culture, especially where earliness is an important factor, is 

 a light, sandy loam, which responds quickly to heat and fertilizers. 

 A slope to the south or southeast is preferable for early cucumbers. 



