328 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: 
of farmers. I intend to start my seed in the forepart of Feb- 
ruary. The celery plant is very slow to germinate, and is also 
avery slow growing plant after it has germinated until it at- 
tains some little size. I would not advise any one, with nothing 
but the ordinary means of growing, to start before the 1st of 
April, on account of the frosts. They will stand a little frost, 
however. 
Dr. Frisselle: I think the point made by Mr. Wilcox is an 
excellent one. We know that the great difficulty is right at the 
beginning. It is in getting the seed to germinate. Now, if 
you have to spend three weeks in soaking your seed, and three — 
more before they come up, it will be nearly fall before you get 
started. JI have experimented some in celery growing. 
I have found a good way of planting in a hotbed is to 
sow the seed in rows, and lay down a board about six inches 
wide on the bed, and make a little trench or mark opposite to 
it. Sow the seed in this, and then lay another board on close 
to it, leaving not more than half an inch or an inch of space be- 
tween them. In that way you will choke out all the weeds, and 
the celery will come up,all inarow. Another point which 
has not been sufficiently insisted upon is this: That celery is a 
swamp-growing plant,and will not grow well without water. It 
may be possible to grow it on upland, but it is a good deal 
more difficult. Undoubtedly the swamp or low land is the 
proper place to raise celery successfully. 
Mr. Wilcox: Wile I second the statement of Dr. Frisselle 
and admit that it may be necessary when raising celery ina 
large way to have an abundance of water close to the surface, 
yet the most successful celery grower in Dakota county— 
who grows the most and best, and supplies our home markets 
entirely—not having this low land, commenced in a small way 
to grow it on high upland, which is very rich, and he has had 
admirable success. Still, I would not recommend anyone to ‘ 
plant celery on upland, if he has low moist ground. 
Mr. Cutler: I have found it a good plan to cover such small 
seeds as celery with hay; have the ground moist, and then 
spread the hay over it and look at it occasionally. 
Mr. Sampson: If you use the hay you cannot tell so readily 
whether the plants have come up or not, and if the plants 
should happen to come up under the hay they would be apt to 
have a long, slender stalk, and the sun would wilt them down. 
Mr. Harris: While Mr. Sampson may be successful in soak- ' 
ing those seeds three weeks, I would not advise people who are 
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