No. 8. 



Cullivaiion of Celery. 



235 



manure. Lime is further serviceable to the 

 farmer, by enabling him to destroy the in- 

 sects and the seeds of weeds tiiat frequently 

 accumulate in the barn yard manure ; for by 

 applying it in its caustic state in alternate 

 layers with the manure, sufficient heat is 

 generated to destroy them eflectually ; and 

 this operation produces, moreover, a variety 

 of soluble salts, that increase the action of the 

 manure, if it be used befiire tiiey have been 

 removed by rain. There is another combina- 

 tion of lime which is very valuable to the 

 ag'riculturist ; it is that in which it exists in 

 bones, timt are principally composed of phos- 

 phate of lime. Most extraordinary results 

 have been obtained by the use of ground 

 bones, as a top-dressing, especially on buck- 

 wheat crops. 



It follows from the above consideration 

 that it is a matter of much importance to the 

 Maryland farmers, to obtain lime at as cheap 

 a rate as possible. Desirous of serving them 

 in this way, I have turned my attention to 

 the subject of lime-burning; and after re- 

 flecting upon the theory of the operation, and 

 consulting the practice of the most experi- 

 enced lime-burners in the State, I think I am 

 enabled to give some simple directions, the 

 observance of which will have the desired 

 effect. 



In the first place, as regards the construc- 

 tion of the kiln, I recommend that it should 

 be in the shape of a truncated egg at both ex- 

 tremities, with the butt-end downwards, con- 

 tracting the upper extremity, so as to make it 

 act in the manner of a reverberatory furnace. 

 Its shape should be very symmetrical with a 

 view of securing a uniform draft in all parts; 

 and it should be built with solidity, of the 

 most refractory material, with an elevation 

 about twenty-two feet, and a bulge at its 

 greatest diameter of eleven feet. A kiln of 

 this size will burn from 1,000 to 1,200 bush- 

 els of lime. 



Next, in conducting the operation, which, 

 according to the present practice, lasts at the 

 least three days and three nights, all lime- 

 burners agree that on the morning of the 

 third day, their kilns become choked up by 

 something which prevents the formation of 

 fresh lime, and during the whole of which 

 they are burning wood apparently to no pur- 

 pose. The cause of this choking, when the 

 kiln, in popular language, is said by some to 

 be sot, and by others glued, is owing to the 

 accumulation of that peculiar gas which it is 

 the object of the burning to separate from 

 the lime, in order to bring it into a pervulent 

 state. This carbonic acid gas, as it is termed, 

 is very heavy, so that where it has thus ac- 

 cumulated, it forms a dense atmosphere, bind- 

 ing round each unburnt portion of stone, and 

 thereby impeding the progress of its calcina- 



! tion. It is true that by urging the fire, the 

 gas finally becomes so rarified as to be ex- 

 pelled ; but this is the unprofitable part of the 

 labour, which may be avoided by simi)ly 

 throwing some water over the kiln. 'J'he 

 water immediately absorbs the gas, the kiln 

 is relieved, and the calcination proceeds as 

 rapidly as in the first stages of the progress. 

 In corroboration of this view, I have found 

 that it agrees with the experience of several 

 observant lime-burners, one of whom informed 

 me, that on an occasion, when his kiln was in 

 the condition above described, his hands be- 

 coming impatient at the delay of their ex- 

 pected results, bethought themselves of as- 

 cending to tlie top of the kiln and fanning it 

 with tiieir hats, and were surprized to find 

 their operations, by this simple act, greatly 

 hastened. The effect was evidently, in this 

 case, to remove by ventilation the dense at- 

 mosphere of gas, as previously stated, that by 

 its pressure prevented calcination of the 

 limestone. Another tells me that under 

 similar circumstances, the same phenomenon 

 was produced by the timely occurrence of a 

 shower of rain. 



If our lime-burners then will adopt the plan 

 of kiln described above, and resort to the sim- 

 ple device just suggested for expediting their 

 operations, I have not the least doubt that 

 they will find in it a saving of one-third of 

 their time, labour and fuel ; and by so doing, 

 they will be enabled to afford this most in- 

 valuable material at one-third less than its 

 present cost, putting it thus within the 

 means of a much greater number of farmers, 

 to reap the benefits to be derived from its use. 



From the Horticultural Magazine. 



On tlic Cultivation of Celery. 



BY J. W. RUSSELL. 



As good celery is always sure to meet with 

 a ready sale in the market, and commands a 

 liberal price when found there, I propose giv- 

 ing a few practical remarks on the necessary 

 treatment required, from the first sowing of 

 the seed in the spring, to the taking up of the 

 roots, in the autunm, for use. In the first 

 place, be it remembered, that the writer of 

 this does not claim any greater knowledge 

 than that possessed by gardeners and others, 

 who have had experience in the cultivation 

 of celery; but as this article may meet the 

 eye of those persons who have not acquired 

 the requisite knowledge, to grow it to perfec- 

 tion, it is probable that they may glean some- 

 thing from it, that may be of some assistance 

 to them. 



There are six or eight varieties of celery 

 cultivated, and all those who cultivate it, 

 have their favourite kinds; nevertheless, I 

 will venture to recommend the white solid, 



