82 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



The first earthing is chiefly to begin the upright 

 growth. Hold the spreading leaves together with one 

 hand and bank the earth around the base of the plant 

 with the other; or tie the whole row at a time with 

 one piece of string (or best with "paper twine'") by 

 passing it in and out between the plants, securing only 



Fig. 41. Celery rows earthed up for blanching. The last earthing. 



to the end plants. Then earth up by hand or by 

 plow. 



Later earthings, of which there are two or even 

 three, are made as the plants shoot up. Never get the 

 earth higher than the heart of the plant, or it will 

 wash into it and spoil it. 



For this method, plants are set in rows four feet or 

 more apart; or sometimes two rows are set a foot 

 apart (four feet between the double rows) and both 

 earthed up together; plants six inches or more apart 

 in the row. 



