52 STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY 



A HORTICULTUKAL TRINITY— CARNATIONS, 'CELERY. TOMATOES. 

 BY MK. J. G. HANCOCK OF GRAND HAYEN. 



This paper must in a measure be tlie liistoin- of a priYate business enter- 

 prise, but we trust i: will be of benefit to some, and will show in some de- 

 gree how the three articles, celery, carnations, and tomatoes, have in- 

 creased in cultiYation in this locality. 



About twenty-three years ago the first celery was grown for market in 

 this part of the state. The first crop consisted of about GOO plants, for 

 which market could scarcely be found. But the demand increased in pro- 

 portion to the supply, and our citizens came to consider almost as a neces- 

 sity what, at first, they either knew little about or considered a luxury. 

 So great has been the increase that from the beginning of GOO plants, 

 twenty-three years ago, last year there were about seventy-fiYe growers in 

 this vicinity who devoted the greater part of their time to cultivation of 

 celery, and the output for last season was well up into the millions of 

 plants; and I have been credibly informed that the shipments by boat, to 

 Chicago alone, last year, were over 40,000 cases. 



As to varieties, the first plantings were of such kinds as London Red, 

 Giant White, and Turner's Incomparable Dwarf White. Then followed 

 Boston Market, later Crawford's Half-Dwarf and Henderson's Dwarf 

 White. These in turn gave way to the shorter and stockier growing kinds, 

 until, at this time, about the only kinds to be found growing in this 

 vicinity are the White Plume and Golden Dw^arf. 



While the change in varieties has been going on, there has been as 

 marked a change in methods of culture. The old method of digging a 

 trench twelve to fifteen inches in width and depth, and filling it half full 

 of stable manure, is not considered necessarj', for with the changing of 

 the old so-called giant varieties to the dwarfer sorts the change was also 

 made to the level system of planting, and instead of placing the fertilizer 

 deep in the trench, beyond the reach of air and light, it is now plowed in 

 and thoroughly incorporated with the soil, but near enough to the surface 

 to be reached by the roots of the plants, and where it will receive the 

 benefit of the air and warming influence of the sun, both of which are 

 essential to perfect root action and plant development. 



Celery is a gross feeder and requires heavy fertilization to get the best 

 results. It must grow very fast in order to get crisp stalks, and therefore 

 rather damp and rich soil is best adapted to its development. Another 

 essential point that must be taken into consideration is that of climate. 

 Celery is a native of England, and seems to do best in a cool, moist atmos- 

 phere. In this particular we are very favorably situated along the shore 

 of lake Michigan, and I believe that to this fact of moist atmosphere and 

 damp, cool nights, is due in a great measure the reputation that INIichigan 

 celery lias attained for superior quality and flavor. 



The method of bleaching has also greatly changed, and whereas it was 

 formerly considered absolutely necessary to bank with earth, boards are 

 now used very extensively for bleaching. Both methods have their ad- 



