54 CELERY. 



I wait for a dry soil and a North or West 

 wind. Thus the plant is supplied with 

 moisture by the process of condensation, 

 and is not, as by the usual practice rusted 

 from the disturbance of a moist ground. 



Celery is hoed for the first time with 

 two objects in view ; to furnish moisture 

 to the crop, and to cover the roots with 

 soil so as to prevent them from being 

 burnt or " scalded' 7 by the sun. When a 

 plant becomes sun-burnt it rusts, the 

 stalks crack cross wise, the tubes which 

 convey the sap break asunder, and the 

 celery becomes bitter to the taste. This 

 unfortunate result is clearly the conse- 

 quence of neglect, and may arise from 

 ignorance or carelessness. 



The first covering should be of not more 

 than three inches of soil over the roots 



