362 VEGETABLE FORCING 



not regularly supplied with cress from outdoor sources, 

 find sale for a limited quantity. 



Water cress may be propagated from seed or cuttings. 

 The usual plan in the greenhouse is to use cuttings 

 which root very quickly in moist sand. The plants may 

 then- be shifted to flats and later to the permanent beds. 

 Bottom heat is unnecessary. In fact, the plant does 

 better in soil that is rather cool. The supply of soil 

 moisture should be abundant and constant. Water cress 

 may be grown under benches where there is fairly good 

 light, or in any kind of a bed or a box provided with 

 proper conditions. When well established, it will renew 

 itself and require little attention, except watering. 



CELERY 



Celery is not regarded in any part of the country as an 

 important forcing crop. It is possible, however, to grow 

 good celery under greenhouse conditions, and the diffi- 

 culties involved are probably no greater than in the pro- 

 duction of some other crops the melon, for example. 

 Whether celery forcing will ever become an important 

 commercial industry is extremely doubtful. A grower 

 here and there is fairly optimistic concerning the out- 

 look, but as a financial proposition there is not very 

 much encouragement in the results of even the most suc- 

 cessful greenhouse growers. In general, it may be said 

 that celery requires practically the same conditions as 

 lettuce, though it is far more exacting in its requirements 

 of heat and moisture. 



Market opportunities seem to be best during the 

 months of April, May and June, or after the stored 

 supply has become exhausted. To mature the crop at 

 that time, the seed should be sown the latter part of 

 November or early in December. 



The so-called self-blanching varieties have been al- 

 most universally employed and recommended for forcing. 



