84 



THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 





cellar; there they will complete their blanching. If 

 tied when earthed, they can be more conveniently 

 handled. 



Other methods of blanching, on 

 a small scale or for exhibition, 

 consist chiefly in tying the plants 

 in an upright position with soft 

 cord, worsted or "paper twine, 11 

 and wrapping with paper or cov- 

 ering with drain -tiles. These plants 

 are often earthed as well, especially 

 in cold weather. 



Storage. Methods are as numer- 

 ous as for blanching, in pits or in 

 empty coldframes, in trenches, or in 

 the rows as earthed up, covered with matting, straw, 

 boards, tar-paper, or glass, to exclude frost and mois- 

 ture. Houses are often specially built. For home 

 storage, the following method is probably the best on 

 a small scale. In a box somewhat deeper than the 

 plants, put two or three inches of sand, soil, or coal 

 ashes. Take up the plants, trimming the masses of 

 roots to small cubes with the spade, and pack them 

 closely in the box. Set in a cool cellar, with little light, 

 and occasionally water the plants by means of a funnel 

 or long pipe, or through holes bored in the sides of the 

 box above the roots, taking care not to wet the leaves. 

 The plants will complete their blanching, and, if the 



Fig. 43. 



Celery plants set in a 

 trench for early win- 

 ter storage. 



