CULTURE OF CELERY. 



of the pot. It was then set in the coldest part of the house, on the floor, and but 

 seldom watered till it began to push, which was about the middle of January. It 

 was then more freely watered, and as soon as the growth had lengthened to six inches, 

 lifted to the front stage. It now began to grow rapidly, and was occasionally treated 

 with a dose of weak liquid manure water. On the 23d we had it at our show, and 

 on March 7th made the following entry in our note-book: ^^ Dielytm sjyectabilis — 

 thirteen spikes eighteen inches high, from four to six racemes on a spike, from eight 

 to twelve blossoms on a raceme." It is still beautiful, and likely to be for some time 

 yet, as several of the spikes that remained dormant at first have since started, and 

 laterals spring from those that first flowered, which keep up a succession. 



As soon as it has exhausted itself it will be cut into pieces, to form cuttings. These 

 will be struck and turned into the flower-garden for summer display, from the roots 

 of which a large stock will be laid in for next winter's operations. 



[The Dielytra stands our climate at Rochester without protection. It is, without 

 exception, in our opinion, the finest hardy herbaceous plant introduced within the last 

 twenty years. Our experience with it in the house enables us to endorse all that Mr. 

 Sanders has said of it. Our artist has taken a drawing of this beautiful flower, which 

 we shall probably give iu the July number. — Ed.] 



THE CULTURE OF CELERY.* 



BY WILLI.UI CIIOELTON, NEW BRIGHTON, STATEN ISLAND. 



Earthing. — Where it may be required to have Celery early, the earthing must be 

 commenced accordingly ; but, generally speaking, too much hurry in this case is not 

 good. One of the reasons why Celery is spongy and insipid, is owing to the soil 

 having been in contact with it too long. While the temperature continues warm, and 

 growth is proceeding rapidly, three to four weeks is quite enough to prepare for use ; 

 so that according to the time it may be wanted, the earthing may be commenced to 

 correspond. There is no difficulty in producing it ready for table by the beginning of 

 August, by a little earlier sowing and extra pains-taking; but more commonly it is 

 considered quite early enough at the beginning of September. The old notion that 

 this vegetable is not good until it has been nipped by the frost, belongs to bygone 

 days, and it is time that we got rid of such ideas ; be assured, that if the frost acts 

 upon it, the flavor will be injured, and the crispness destroyed. When commencing 

 to blanch, go over and break out all outside oftshoots or decayed base-leaves ; loosen 

 up each side of the row, keeping clear of the roots ; break up the soil well ; lift the 

 leaves up into a perpendicular position, and while holding them so with one hand, fill 

 in and around with the other about six inches of earth, taking care that it does not 

 fall down into the heart ; and always choose a dry day for this operation. After pro- 



♦ Continued from April number. 



