EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 341 



In the other celery districts of the state, the crates are quite different 

 in form and the celery frequently packed loose in the crates. The fol- 

 lowing are the sizes generally used: — 



Inches Inches 



6 X 12 X 20 10 X 10 X 18 



G X 12 X 22 10 X 10 X 20 



G X IS X 22 10 X 10 X 22 



At Decatur much of the crop is shipped in the rough. When shipped 

 in this manner some of the roots are left on the plants and only a few 

 of the outside leaves removed. The celery is then packed in large open 

 crates, being trimmed and bunched in the storage houses of the cities by 

 the commission dealers before being delivered to the retailers. Shipping 

 in this manner enables the growers to handle and ship their crop while 

 the weather is favorable and the crop is placed in a fresh, crisp condi- 

 tion upon the market. 



STORING. 



Although most of the celery in Michigan is sold before freezing weather, 

 about Hudsonville, Vriesland and some other sections, large quantities 

 of it are stored for early winter. Many market gardeners about the 

 cities of the state dealing with a special or local market also store this 

 crop. 



When the crop is to be sold in late fall it may be simply banked as 

 high as possible with soil and the tops covered with straw, to protect 

 the plants from light freezes. Celery that is to be stored for early winter 

 is usually trenched. This consists of digging a trench about a foot deep 

 in the field between the celery rows, into which the plants are closely 

 set, so that the to]is are not more than two inches above the ground. 

 The trench may be dug by hand or by plowing out a double furrow, and 

 the plants should be lifted from the rows while the foliage is dry, with 

 some soil clinging to the roots. A protection of some sort must then 

 be provided. When blanching boards are at hand they may be nailed 

 together in a V form and placed over the trenches. If the weather then 

 turns warm after trenching, they may be slightly raised with blocks 

 or stones, for ventilation. As it gets colder a light furrow of soil may 

 be turned against the base of the boards, and later, the boards covered 

 with manure to protect the plants, if boards are not available the plants 

 may be covered with hay or straw, until danger of severe freezing, when 

 they may be further protected with manure. 



The storing of celery in this state for late winter is generally unprofit- 

 able, and hence it will seldom pay to erect a celery storehouse for this 

 purpose. Storage pits, vacant hotbeds or cellars are often satisfactory 

 for storing this crop. In fact it may be stored in any place where 

 the plants may be kept cool and moist, without danger of freezing and 

 where thorough ventilation may be given, especially during warm 

 weather. 



