300 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



ting boards a foot wide on edge, at the sides of the bed, and fill- 

 ing between the plants with earth. The last of October take up a 

 part of the plants and put in the cellar to blanch for use, and 

 the middle or latter part of November the remainder. 



Celery will endure sharp frost without injury, but should 

 never be handled when frozen, and it should not stand out till the 

 ground freezes. To blanch it and keep it for winter it can be 

 put in old barrels or narrow boxes. Put a few inches of mel- 

 low earth in the bottom and set the roots in it, pressing the 

 earth to them as if transplanting it, and set in the cellar. It may 

 be packed in quite closely, and from twelve to twenty plants 

 can be put in a barrel. If you have more than you wish to 

 put in the cellar, a part can be kept in trenches. Dig as nar- 

 row as you can not to exceed twelve inches and as deep as 

 the length of your plants. Place the celery in the trench as 

 nearly perpendicular as you can, and as closely as it can be 

 packed. No earth will be necessary except what adheres to the 

 roots. It should always be handled when dry. It will need 

 no covering for a few days, but the material should be on the 

 ground so as to be ready for use, and should be added gradually 

 as needed. The cleanest and best material is sawdust, and a 

 load of it will protect a large amount of celery. If kept dry, 

 eight or ten inches of sawdust will keep out the frost in the 

 coldest w r eather, and there should always be a covering of 

 boards, corn-fodder, or some other material, to keep the sawdust 

 dry. The reason for making the trenches narrow, and covering 

 gradually, is to prevent the celery from heating, which would cause 

 it to decay. The celery after being placed in the boxes or bar- 

 rels in the cellar or in the pits, will be fit for use in five or six 

 weeks, and will remain in good condition till spring. 



Following the directions here given, the growing of celery is 

 so simple that there is no excuse for any family being with- 

 out it. 



Sweet Corn. The growing of corn is an easy matter if one 

 has a rich soil, and sweet corn will be found a profitable crop 

 for the truck farmer. In the family garden I would advise that 

 the first planting be made early in April, or as soon as the 



