328 GAKDEN MANAGEMENT. 



trenches, allowing 15 inches for the trench, if single rows, and 20 inches, 

 if double rows, are to be planted. Have not less than four feet clear space 

 between the rows ; dig out the trenches one spade deep, throwing the soil 

 on the spaces between ; then dig in the trenches a good dressing of rotten 

 dung. If the weather is hot and dry, it is as well to wait for a shower of rain, 

 unless it can be copiously watered both before and after planting. If in >ingle 

 rows, it is merely necessary to plant along the centre of the trench, a foot 

 apart ; if double, stretch a line along the centre and plant a row on each side 

 of it. Let them be taken up and planted with a trowel, and not with a dibber : 

 they should be well settled in with water. It is sometimes planted in this 

 manner : — The ground is marked into one or more beds four feet wdde ; if more 

 than one, five or six feet is left between the beds ; the soil is dug out to the 

 depth of 10 inches or a foot, and thrown on the intervening spaces ; a good 

 dressing of manure is then forked into each bed ; the plants are then planted 

 in rows across the beds five plants in each row, the rows 15 inches apart. 

 The only advantage of this plan is, that a greater number of plants can be 

 grown on a given space. In earthing them up, it is necessary to have two 

 pieces of board as long as the bed is wide. Place these between two rows, let- 

 ting the boards rest close to the plants : this forms a trough into which the 

 earth is to be thrown. Before earthing up, as it is called, it is always best to 

 gather up each plant with the hand and press the soil about it, to keep the 

 leaves together, which prevents the soil falling into the heart of the plant. 

 Kever earth up till about three weeks or a month before it is wanted, — before 

 the month of October, when a little more time must be allowed for blanching. 

 Early in November the final earthing-up should be done, unless in wet soils, 

 when it might be protected with litter and earthed up for blanching at 

 discretion, otherwise sharp frosts might injure it. Some place dried leaves 

 about the plants before earthing up, and others, at the final earthing, cover the 

 plants completely over ; but whether any advantage is derived from these 

 practices may be doubted. It is advisable to dust well with lime before earth- 

 ing 01 watering with lime-water to destroy slugs. It is alwa3's best to earth 

 up gradually, that is, about four inches at a time, lest a too sudden change 

 from exposure might rot the stalks. While growing, plenty of water should be 

 given, and sometimes liquid manure ; for it is a gross-feeding crop, and must 

 be kept growing, or it will neither be crisp nor of good flavour. The best way to 

 <jrow celery is to plant about 15 or 18 inches apart, on a well-manured and well- 

 pulverized piece of ground : let it grow to its full size, keep the ground well 

 5tin-ed between, give liquid manure or lay rotted dung between, and water 

 in dry weather. 



925. When it is desired to blanch it, get a number of 4-inch drain-pipes, 

 about 18 inches long; place one over each plant, hold the leaves and; 

 stalks together, and fill up with sand : it will blanch clean, and is easily taken 

 up. A great many more may thus be grown on a given space, the waste of 

 room between the trenches, as in the ordinary method, being unnecessary. To 

 protect from frost, place litter between; but very sharp frosts alone wiH 



