CHAPTER XVIII. 

 CELERY. 



CELERY. Apium graveolcns. 



French, celeri; German, sellerie; Danish, selleri ; Italian, sedano apio ; 

 Spanish, apio. 



CELERIAC Idem. 



French, celeri-rave; German, knoll-sellerie ; Dutch, knoll-selderij ; Danish, 

 knold-selleri ; Italian, sedano-rapa ; Spanish, apio-nabo. 



California celery taken from the field during the winter months 

 and delivered in the eastern markets by frost-proof cars has, during 

 the last few years, made decided progress in competition with 

 the eastern product taken from frost-proof storage in pits, or 

 specially-constructed celery houses. On certain well-suited soils in 

 regions subject to coast influences and, therefore, with moderated 

 summer temperature, the celery plant makes a grand summer 

 growth, with or without irrigation, according to the natural moisture 

 of the soil, and encounters no fall or winter temperature which 

 injures it in the open field. In fact, in these special localities and 

 soils, which will be described presently, the plant finds naturally 

 provided those conditions for splendid development which in less 

 favored regions, can only be secured by considerable artifice and 

 investment. For these reasons commercial celery growing for dis- 

 tant markets is a rapidly advancing industry, and has given great 

 value to lands suited to its uses. It is estimated that not less than 

 six thousand acres were grown in Orange county in 1907, but since 

 that time owing to lower prices and other troubles the acreage has 

 been reduced until in 1912 it fell to 1,500 acres, the land being 

 largely given to sugar beets and Lima beans. The acreage of celery 

 in the Stockton district in 1912 was about 1,500 acres, as follows: 

 Jersey Island, 350; Bradford Island, 400; Twitchells Island, 200; 

 Staten Island, 400; Sherman Island, 150 acres. There is also a con- 

 siderable product for shipment grown on moist lowlands near Sacra- 



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