338 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



being exi)ressed to points all over the United States, During the fall, 

 the other districts, at Decatur, Vriesland, Hudsonville and other smaller 

 sections where the crop is grown more extensively, begin shipping and 

 aim to dispose of most of their crop before severe freezing weather. A 

 small portion of this crop in these districts is trenched in the field, 

 but is generally disposed of before mid-winter, when the California 

 product enters the market. 



HARVESTING. 



Celery may be harvested as soon as it attains the proper size and is 



Fig. 12. — Harvesting. The boards are removed only as fast as necessary and laid between the ro\v.-> 

 to serve as walks. Note row to the left with boards removed ready for cutting. 



well blanched. With the earliest crop, to gain the advantages of a high 

 market, it is frequently cut slightly before this time and it often pays 

 better under these circumstances than to wait for the crop to fully blanch 

 and mature. If the plants are left too long after they have matured, they 

 loose their crispness and flavor and are apt to become diseased. 



\yhen the crop is harvested during the summer months and is to be 

 shipi>ed long distances, the i)lants should be cut and carried to the pack- 

 ing shed early in the morning. In the Kalamazoo district, this work is 

 all j)erformed before .seven o'clock in the morning. The boards used for 

 blanching are removed only as fast as necessary and laid between the 

 rows to serve as a walk. (Fig. 12). If the plants are left exposed to 

 the sun and wind, they lose their firmness and are apt to wilt, hence 



