The Culture of Vegetables 



esteem by growers of prize Celery are good in themselves when grown 

 to a moderate size ; it is the forcing system alone that deprives them 

 of flavour. Yet another precaution may be needful to prevent a mis- 

 hap. In a hot summer, Celery will sometimes ' bolt ' or run up to 

 flower, in which case it is worthless. This may be the fault of the 

 cultivator more than of the seed or the weather, for a check in many 

 cases hastens the flowering of plants, and it is not unusual for Celery 

 to receive a check through mismanagement. If sown too early, it 

 may be impossible to plant out when of suitable size, and the con- 

 sequent arrest of growth at a most important stage may result in 

 a disposition to flower the first year, instead of waiting for the second. 

 It should be understood, therefore, that early sowing necessitates 

 early planting, and the cultivator should see his way clearly from the 

 commencement. 



The ist of March is early enough for a first sowing anywhere of 

 a small variety, and this will require a mild hot-bed, or a place in the 

 propagating house. Sow on rich fine soil in boxes, cover lightly, 

 and place in a temperature of 60. When forward enough prick out 

 the plants on a rich bed close to the glass, in a temperature of 60 

 to 65, keep liberally moist, and give air, at first with great caution, 

 but increasing as the natural temperature rises until the lights can 

 be removed during the day. The plant may thus be hardened for 

 a first planting on a warm border in a bed consisting of one-half 

 rotten hot-bed manure and one-half of turfy loam. The bed 

 need not be deep, but it must be constantly moist, and old lights 

 should be at hand to give shelter when needful. If well grown in 

 trenches, this first crop will be of excellent quality, and will come in 

 early. 



For the general crop a second sowing may be made of the finest 

 Red and White varieties, also on a mild hot-bed, in the second week 

 of March, and have treatment similar to the first, but once pricking 

 out into the open bed will be sufficient, the forwardest plants being 

 put out first at six inches, and to have shelter if needful ; other 

 plantings in the same way to follow until the seed-bed is cleared. 

 By good management this sowing may be made to serve the purpose 

 of three sowings, the chief point being to prick out the forwardest 

 plants on another mild bed as soon as they are large enough to 

 be lifted, and to make a succession from the same seed-bed as the 

 plants advance to a suitable size. 



The third and last sowing may be made in the second week of 

 April, in an open border, on rich light soil, and should have the 



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