THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 43 



tlie middle of February, and the other a month afterwards ; that is 

 supposing a considerable breadtli is to be grown ; but if it is intended 

 to have only one or two rows, then one sowing of seed in March will 

 suffice, for a succession may be secured by putting the largest plants 

 out first. The principal point in celery culture is to keep the 

 plants steadily growing from the time they make their appearance 

 in the seed-pan until they are ready for the table. 



Sow the seed in pans filled with a light compost sucli as would be 

 formed by mixing together equal parts of sandy loam and powdery 

 leaf-mould ; cover the seed lightly, place the seed-pan in the cucum- 

 ber frame or propagating pit, and maintain the soil in a moderately 

 moist condition. 



When the plants are well up, remove to a light position in the 

 greenhouse or warm pit, for a high temperature will no longer be 

 required. As soon as the plants are an inch or so in height, prick 

 them off into shallow boxes, filled with a similar compost to that 

 employed for the seed-pans. Put them about two inches apart each 

 way, water them in with a fine rose, and shade during the first few 

 days. Let them remain in the greenhouse or frame tmtil about 

 three inches in height, and they will then be strong enough for 

 planting out on a bed of rich soil to strengthen, previous to being 

 planted in the trenches. The bed of soil should be made up in a 

 cold frame, or in a sheltered corner in the garden, and then covered 

 with a portable frame, or mats. When no other protection besides 

 mats can be aflorded, the planting in the bed must be deferred until 

 a period of warm, genial weather. In preparing the bed, make the 

 bottom firm, then lay down a few inches of well-decayed manure, 

 and cover it with two or three inches of friable soil. 



Plant four inches apart each way, water liberally to settle the 

 soil, and keep close for the first few days. Afterwards expose fully 

 to the light, ventilate freely, and whenever the weather is warm, 

 draw the lights off altogether, if in a frame ; for anything approach- 

 ing coddling must be carefully avoided. 



In speaking of the planting-out, it is first of all necessary to 

 consider whether the celery is to be grown in single trenches or in 

 beds. The largest produce may be obtained, according to the space 

 occupied, from the beds. In preparing the single trenches, it is 

 simply necessary to open out trenches fifteen inches in width, and 

 eighteen inches in depth. Put six inches of manure in the trenches, 

 cover with four inches of soil, and they will be ready for the recep- 

 tion of the plants. In cases where the trenches run parallel to each 

 other, they should be thirty inches or three feet apart. 



In planting in beds, let the trenches be four feet in width, and 

 the same depth as advised above. Put the same quantity of manure 

 and soil as in the single trenches, and plant in rows of four each, 

 across the bed ; this will allow of their being twelve inches apart, 

 and the rows must be the same distance from each other. The 

 celery in beds can be very easily earthed up with the assistance of 

 two boards. 



Choose a dull, moist day for the planting operation, and lift 

 with a trowel, for it is most important that the roots should be 



February. 



