CELERY CULTURE. 



77 



raise some extra nice celery, entirely free from rust, as the soil coming in 

 contact with the plant so long is one cause of rust. This is all the White 

 Plume and Self-Blanching kinds of celery will need. It will be ready for 

 use or market in six or eight weeks after this work is done. Handling is 

 all that winter celery will need, provided it is put in trench by October 

 20th ; in which case it should be handled about a month before that time. 

 But, as a general thing, celery, for use about Christmas, is handled about 

 September 15th, left growing two weeks or more, and then banked with 

 the spade as high as the stems go without the leaves. After another two 



First Banking. 



Second Banking. Third Banking. 



or three weeks' growth, it will be ready to bank up higher, this time put- 

 ting the soil clear to the top of the celery (see figures), but being careful 

 each time to keep the soil from getting into the celery. Never handle or 

 put soil to celery when the ground is wet or frosted. It can be left after 

 the last banking until it is time to trench it; or it may be left out until 

 ready for use, by putting enough soil or coarse manure around it to keep 

 out the frost. Left in this way, it will be ready for market the latter part 

 of November. 



