CELFRY CULTURE. 75 



roots, and they will soon form a mass of fine roots near the surface. By 

 this treatment, the plants will be half an inch thick by July 1st. Forcing 

 by heat is not good for them. Celery is a salt water plant, and delights 

 in moisture, rich soil, and partial shade, at least for the plants, if grown 

 under glass. 



PREPARATION OF THE GROUND. 



The ground, pre\ious to setting out, should be heavily manured a 

 year or more before planting the celery, for best results; plow deep, and 

 harrow until in good condition. A soil that is rather damp, but not wet 

 that would be good for late cabbages but slightly too wet for most 

 garden crops ; a spot approaching an alkali bed (of which we have plenty 

 in Colorado), but not showing much alkali itself; a heavy loam, rather 

 than sand ; such a soil will generally raise good celery, if rich enough. If 

 manure is not plenty, good celery can be raised by making a deep plow 

 furrow where the celery row is to be, and spreading three inches of rotted 

 manure in it, mixing it well with the soil with cultivator or hoe; but it 

 is best to manure the whole ground, as celery roots extend for three or 

 four feet on each side. I would advise against the use of much fresli horse 

 manure, as I think it has a tendency to cause a rank growth, making the 

 celery soft and spongy. 



TIME AND MANNER OF SETTING PLANTS. 



Early celery, such as White Plume and Golden Self-Blanching, are 

 set out from the 15th of June to the 1st of July. They may be set in rows 

 three feet apart, if not to be banked much; otherwise, four to four and a 

 half feet by six inches apart in the row, if for single rows, 'or ten inches 

 in double rows, set alternately, the two rows about a foot apart. Set as 

 you would cabbage plants, a few inches below the general level of the soil, 

 but set the plant no deeper than it was before, while standing in the seed 

 bed. Have the irrigating water to follow closely after the planter. 



The later kinds of celery require five to six feet between the rows, to 

 give soil and room for banking. Plant the same distance in the row as 

 the other kinds, from July 1st to 10th. Care should be used in removing 

 the plants from the seed bed, that as many roots as possible may be re- 

 tained. The plants should be graded as to size, not planting large and 

 small plants together. My experience teaches me not to depend upon 



