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CULTUEE OP CELEEY. 



When winter is over, tbo seed plants should be ronioved carefully into a spot of very 

 rich ground, and freely exposed to the sun, by which they will be invigorated and 

 enabled to flower strongly ; the seeds will be plump and well developed, and in their 

 turn will produce strong and healthy plants. As all the seed does not ripen at the 

 same time, it should be gathered at intervals, spread out upon paper in a dry but cool 

 room, and when thoroughly dried it may be cleaned and stowed away in bags till 

 wanted for use. Celery seed will keep good for several years, but the finest plants are 

 raised from it while fresh. 



To j)roduce very fine Celery. — Ilitherto I have only treated of this vegetable so as 

 to produce an ordinarily good sample, and in a way that will pay the market-gardener; 

 but if it be desirable to have extra quality and the largest size, some difference should 

 be made in the culture. Celery will feed freely on very rich manures if judiciously 

 applied, but not otherwise ; and the best time to use such is during active growth, 

 and after the greatest heat of summer is past. There is no difficulty in obtaining 

 heads of eight to ten pounds weight, and in some instances even more, if the follow- 

 ing directions be adopted : 



Raise the plants, and plant out as before directed, with the exception of the trenches, 

 which should be opened wider, and about half as much more well-rotted manure 

 added. When a trifle advanced in size, and growing fast, place a few inches of fresh 

 "maiden" earth along side of the stalks ; and if there is a hog-pen at hand, procure a 

 quantity of the drainings and slush, fresh as it is, convey it to your rows of Celery, 

 and after raising a small ridge outside and away ashort distance from the plants along 

 the row, pour it on the surface. Take care that this does not come too near the stalks, 

 or it will most assuredly rot them ; and do not mutilate the roots, or they will be 

 destroyed. Do not apply this or any other strong manure during hot weather, or the 

 increased luxuriance •svill not bear the sun's rays, and the leaves will blister. A wet 

 time is the best for this kind of application ; and in the absence of frequent rains, use 

 water very freely. If hog drainings are not to be had, a good but not equal substi- 

 tute is dung-hill drainings, or guano dissolved in water at the rate of fifteen gallons 

 to one pound. If the hog wash be used, one application will be enough ; but of the 

 others, a repetition every three or four days for three weeks will be necessary. The 

 after-soiling may proceed as before advised, with the exception that if deferred longer 

 the weight will be greater. 



It may be thought that this is a strong dose ; but we must recollect that it is only 

 applied when growth is most active, and the plants under favorable circumstances as 

 to temperature ; and most vegetables will flourish at this period with manures of so 

 rich a nature as to kill them at other times. It is from a want of knowledge on this 

 very point, that so much mischief is frequently done in this way. What is here 

 advised has often been done in my own practice, when wishing to obtain extraordinary 

 results, and has answered the purposes for which it was intended. 



The following criteria will show what a first rate head of Celery is, and how it 

 ought to appear on the exhibition table. The weight may be from six to ten pounds. 

 It should be taken up with the roots preserved, and cleanly washed. The external 



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