CELERY CULTURE. 79 



until cold weather. When it threatens to freeze up be prepared to put on 

 more covering of long, coarse manure, six to twelve inches deep, or 

 enough to keep out frost. But it is best to delay putting on heavy cover- 

 ing as late as it is safe. More celery is spoiled in the trench by heating 

 than by freezing ; so, after a heavy covering is on it will require airing 

 every fine day, during the winter, by opening a small hole in the cover 

 about every rod. 



In preparing celery for market the outside green leaves and the roots 

 are removed, all soil washed or scrubbed off and any decayed or rusty 

 spots neatly removed with a sharp knife, assorted as to size and tied in 

 bundles of twelve stocks. If it is to be shipped any distance, each bundle 

 should be wrapped in brown wrapping paper. 



The cost of raising celery, per acre, is about as follows : 



Interest on $300 at 8 percent $ 24.00 



Manure, forty loads at $2.00 80.00 



Plowing, harrowing and marking one man and team 3.00 



Planting one man four days at 81.50 6.00 



Cultivation one man and horse three days at $2.00 6 00 



Hoeing twice one man three days at $1.50 4.50 



Handling or tying one man ten days at $1.50 15.00 



Banking -one man fifteen days a,t $1.50 22.50 



Trenching 10.00 



Water and watering 7.00 



Thirteen thousand plants at $4.00 per thousand 52.00 



Preparing for market 30.00 



Total $.60.00 



Prices here range from 25 cents to $1.00 per dozen, according to size 

 and quality ; the small being raised at a loss, the large at a good profit. 

 Perhaps a fair average would be 50 cents per dozen. Counting 12,000, or 

 1,000 dozen per acre, we have receipts of $500.00, or about one-half profit. 

 Where land and manure is high and scarce, it is desirable to help out 

 expenses by raising an early crop upon the ground before the celery is 

 planted, which can be done in Colorado to some extent, but not as well as 

 in the Eastern states where the seasons are longer. Early peas may be 

 planted on the ground, and after the first good picking the whole turned 

 under, when it makes a valuable manure ; or early cabbage, cauliflower, 

 beets, turnips, lettuce, or potatoes may be planted in rows six feet apart, 

 and in July the celery set between the rows. The first named crops will 

 be off the ground before it is needed for banking purposes. By this means 

 two crops can be raised, and hence the gardener can well afford to manure 

 the ground heavily. 



