CULTURE OF CELERY 



SOWING THE SEED 



CELERY is a plant which has not become popular among 

 all classes alike, and for this there is a substantial reason, 

 for nowhere will edible celery grow unless it receives 

 attention beyond that required by many other vegetables. 

 It is a gross feeder and a gross drinker, and I never yet 

 found land good enough to grow it without adding 

 manure. It will in fact take any quantity in reason that 

 may be offered it. I heard an old gardener once say the 

 " wust of salary is that he's a glutton and a boozer," by 

 which he meant that it requires high feeding all round. 



Its wants are many, if it is to be developed to its 

 highest state of perfection. The seedlings must not be 

 drawn up by forcing, and crowding in the seed beds is 

 a nuisance. Indeed, no check whatever should be al- 

 lowed, especially through the lack of water. There is 

 an almost universal opinion that celery is not really good 

 till it has had a frost on it. I remember a gentleman 

 who told me that he never touched celery till it had been 

 exposed to frost. Now in that particular year there was 

 no frost till the end of November, but plenty of rain, 

 and better celery than was found then I do not remem- 

 ber. The secret is that celery requires a good deal of 

 water, and the portion which is blanched in the dull 

 days of autumn when there is a good deal of rain is of 

 course better than when grown and brought to table in 

 the months of September, October, and the first half of 



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