cii.vr. XVIII A'-ILLA GARDENING 467 



matters of less importance, as local circuiustauces may have some 

 iiitlueuce ; so also is the question whether the rows shall be single 

 or double, or the bed system adopted. In small gardens, and for 

 late use, 



The Bed System of planting has advantages. It economises 

 space, and on inferior soils the strength is not so likely to be 

 washed out of a large mass of rich soil as out of a narrow strip. 

 The earhest plants may be set out as soon as they are ready in 

 May, and as little disturbance of the roots should be suffered as pos- 

 sible. The holes should be made with a trowel, and be large enough 

 to receive the ball of earth and roots. The soil should be crumbled- 

 in round and over them, and enough pressure given to make all 

 sufficiently tirm. Watering and shading should follow if the 

 weather is dry. A few branches laid across the trenches may 

 furnish sufficient shade, and their shelter may also be beneficial. 

 The main crop should be put out towards the end of June, and the 

 late crop in July and August. I have often had useful Celery, not 

 large, but sound and good, from making a plantation on the level 

 ground towards the end of July, without any great amount of pre- 

 paration, simply using up the sui-plus plants. They are planted in 

 rows across a border, and mulched and watered if they need it. 

 They grow until November, and are then tied up and blanched 

 with ashes. 



The Transplanting should be done, if possible, in showery 

 weather, or in the evening. It is a bad practice to plant during 

 hours of sunshine, as the fewer and less severe the checks are the 

 better. To obtain really first-class Celery the treatment must be 

 regular — the plants should not be nomished and staVved by fits 

 and starts. Water should be given when needful, but not other- 

 wise, as one cannot deluge the land with water without washing 

 some of its goodness down to drains. Though this tendency can 

 1)0 met by giving liquid manure, yet if the land is moist enough 

 for steady progress, that is all that is required. To enable the 

 plants to do with as little water as possible, the soil between the 

 plants shoidd be mulched with old hotbed manure, leaf-mould, or 

 sometliing of a like nature that will check evaporation. The 

 growth at first will be slow, but when the nights begin to lengthen 

 and the dews of autumn api^ear on the foliage, the progress is rapid. 

 The distance between the rows must depend upon the kinds grown. 

 Tall vigorous varieties, such as Snlliam Prize, must obviously have 

 more room than such dwarf kinds as Inconq)arable Dwarf White, 

 or Carter's Incomparable Dwarf Crimson, both excellent kinds. 

 Four feet from centre to centre will give abundant space for dwarf 

 sorts, but 5 feet will not be too much for tall kinds if planted in 



