MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. 403 



beneficial. Plant early in the spring, soon as the ground is in good 

 condition for handling, make the rows fifteen inches apart and drill the 

 seed evenly and pretty thick, cover one-half inch deep, tramp the earth 

 firmly with feet, after which smooth off the bed with back of garden 

 rake, then cover with brash. Soon as plants are up so as to show 

 along the row, remove the brush carefully and hoe the plants ; if 

 weather is hot and dry replace the brush for a few days, and remove it 

 just after rain or during a cloudy day. You need have no fear of seed 

 rotting on account of early planting ; we have never lost any in this 

 way, but have lost many plants by them perishing under a crust of 

 earth, hence the need of brush on seedbed. Keep the plant-bed clear 

 of weeds and in fine mellow condition by a free use of the hoe and 

 fingers.. When the plants are four inches high shear the tops off to 

 two inches; this gives the plants a chance to heart up ; in June trans- 

 plant to the field, which should be level or nearly so, very rich and well 

 prepared by deep plowing early in the spring and replowed once or 

 twice and harrowed before setting the plants. Near city markets a 

 crop of early garden vegetables may be grown and sold from the land 

 before planting in celery. The rows should be five feet wide, plants 

 five inches apart in the row. If plants are large enough, commence 

 setting out the first week in June and continue to plant in rainy and 

 cloudy weather up to the fourth of July; take up the plants with a 

 spade; cut off the long top roots and dip the roots in a paste of clay 

 mud thick enough to adhere to the roots and completely cover them, 

 dip a small handful at a time and place in dropper's basket, mark out 

 your rows by use of light wheels or runners, make holes for plants 

 with spod (a stick five feet long by one inch thick and sharpened to a 

 point at one end), have dropper place the plants in the holes, and have 

 your best and most careful hands to follow and set the plants, taking 

 care to place the plant deep enough so none of the white root or crown 

 will be left exposed to the air, and not so deep as to cover up the cen- 

 ter bud; see that the root is straight down in the hole, and till the hole 

 perfectly full, pressing the dirt very firmly about each plant. If the 

 work is well done no shade will be needed ; after planting, cultivate, 

 hoe and weed, keep perfectly clean. 



If the plants grow very slow during July and August, don't grow 

 impatient and neglect them, but cultivate right along. If they grow 

 fast and spread, don't get in a hurry about banking, let them grow and 

 form a large heart. Banking celery in Missouri during August will 

 cause it to rot. By first week in September throw the earth toward 

 the celery row with turning plow, close as possible without covering 

 the plants; only plow one or two rows at a time so as to have fresh 



