ONION- CULTURE. 125 



each stalk separately in brown straw paper, and pack in 

 boxes with slatted top. Any rusty or decayed spots on 

 the celery can be quickly removed with a shaip, thin- 

 bladed knife, which greatly improves its appearance. 

 Prices range from twenty-five cents to two dollars per 

 dozen, according to size and quality. Good celery will 

 average eight cents per stalk, or, in round numbers, 

 one thousand dollars per acre. Frequently the whole of 

 the expense of manure can be covered by raising a spring 

 crop on the ground, before planting the celery. 



As an example of profitable celery culture, it may 

 be cited that on a certain farm three hundred bushels of 

 early potatoes were grown one season on two acres of 

 muck ground, and brought one dollar per bushel ; five 

 thousand dozen celery were set out just before digging 

 the potatoes, and became well rooted in the shade of the 

 potato vines. The celery sold was shipped in many 

 directions, and retailed at eight and ten cents per bunch. 

 The celery brought the grower seventeen hundred and 

 fifty dollars, and the crop cost him less than one hundred 

 dollars as it left his hands. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Onion Culture. 



A strong, deep, rich, loamy soil is most suitable for 

 an onion crop, and where very large bulbs are desired, it 

 is indispensable. New land is especially adapted for 

 the growth of onions. On ground of this character they 

 can be raised at less than one-half the ordinary cost, 

 little or no manure being necessary, and it is usually 

 nearly free from weeds. Very dry, light or sandy soil is 

 unfit for this high-feeding crop. The chief reason why 



