♦.)04 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



which were the exact counterpart of those found all along the shores 

 of the Mediterranean Sea at the present time. So much for the mummy 

 pea myth. As a matter of fact, sweetpeas are a comparatively new 

 plant, having been kno^Yn for only about 50 years as far as there is 

 any record, although it is possible of course that the ancient Egyp- 

 tians may have grown them in their gardens. 



Suffolk Co., Mass. The Elms. 



HOW TO GROW CELERY. 



ir. M. RANDEL IN M^ESTERN FRUIT GROWER. 



Either grow your own seedlings or buy plants to set. Work the 

 ground fine to a depth of at least a foot a couple of times before plants 

 are ready to set. Make an extra fine seed bed for two rows of celery. 

 Mark off two rows ten inches apart. The best way to do that is with 

 your feet; push them along in the dirt to a depth of two inches, allow- 

 ing your weight to compast the soil under the plants. Set plants ten 

 inches apart in each row. Work fine dirt with your fingers among the 

 roots, leaving bed level when set. This puts the roots in the warm 

 sunshine to grow. Do not dig a ditch to set plants in; they will not 

 grow fast in the deep, cold ground. Next get a mulch three inches thick, 

 compacted tightly, between the two rows. This may be a mixture of 

 manure and straw. Leave this mulch during the season to hold damp- 

 ness and to water the plants in if the season is very dry. It also saves 

 half the cultivation and makes the plants grow vigorously. Do all the 

 cultivation on the outside of each row. Planted in this way two rows 

 are grown as easily as one. Simply cultivate as you would a cabbage 

 plant till knee-high before banking up. To hill up sooner retards 

 growth. Or a few plants may be tiled or banked up for early use sooner 

 than this . 



To prepare celery for hilling, tie binder twine around each plant to 

 keep out dirt and air from center. It will bleach better and handle 

 better. In banking lean tops of each row together and both 'rows are 

 banked as easily as one. Bank within six inches of the top. Make 

 bank higher each week as celery may grow until danger of freezing. 

 Then remove to cellar. Do this in this way: First dig down bank on 

 outside of each row, then with a potato fork lift out each bunch, retain- 

 ing as much good mellow dirt as possible. Remove to cellar carefully. 

 If a very dry time, pour some water around each plant before lifting 

 out and dirt will stick better to roots. 



Bank in the cellar as follows: Use no box, but set first bunch in 

 the corner of the cellar against the cellar wall on the cellar floor. Press 

 the roots of each bunch as close together as possible, filling in fine 

 mellow dirt taken from the ridge at least two-thirds the height of the 

 bunches. This dirt must be watered to dampen it thoroughly about 

 every two weeks. Do not wet the tops when watering, as it will cause 

 the celery to rot. Use a large funnel to conduct water. Make the dirt 



