SECT. XV. OP ESCULENTS. 231 



it must be taken off, and the ground lightly watered, 

 as soon as the plants appear. If the weather should 

 be very sunny, shade the young plants a little for a 

 few days, by raising the mat, or* laying some brush 

 wood over. 



Prick out the plants in moist weather (if possible) 

 when two or three inches high, at three or four astu> 

 der. Water them every other day for a, week if dry 

 weather succeeds. 



Plant celery when six inches high, in trenches a 

 yard distant, and six inches from one another. In a 

 light soil, the trenches may be somewhat deeper ; but 

 generally near a spadti's depth is proper, and a spade's 

 width, keeping the walls firm and upright. Shorten 

 long roots and high tops, >and push off small side 

 shoots. 



-If the soil is not very good, dig in a little wejjl- 

 rotted dung at bottom ; but the celery will be sounder 

 and sweeter without dung; an<l though the plants 

 .will not icoine up so large, they will be hardier .jp 

 resist frost. !&%,.. Jqttr that celery is planted pujt ; 

 the shallower the trenches should be; and when 

 late, be the more careful to displace the small side 

 shoots. ;!] 7-10 ^ ;, .. 



Water celery at plan ting as at pricking out, and oc- 

 casionally afterwards in very dry weather, for it likes 

 a moist soil, and will not grow large and tender in a 

 dry, or light one. 



Earth up the plants frequently (as suppose every 

 week or ten days, in a growing season) a little at a 

 time, in order to blanch them, by which they become 

 crisp, sweet, and tender: The celery gets tough and 

 rank, when this business is let alone too along. In 

 earthing up, it is a good way to gather the plants 

 close (but carefully) with the lelt hand, using a 

 trowel, or small spade, for the purpose. 



