276 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



CELERIAC. 



This vegetable, which is also known as turnip-rooted celery, or 

 knot celery, is closely related to our ordinary celery, being indeed a 

 cultural variety of the same original plant grown under conditions 

 which have developed the root rather than the stalk. In Europe it is 

 by far the most common form of celery, but has never been exten- 

 sively cultivated in the United States, though it is found in the larger 

 markets. The roots are white and more or less globular in shape, 

 closely resembling turnips in appearance. This vegetable deserves to 

 be more widely known, being extremely hardy and of easy cultiva- 

 tion. It is mostly used for flavoring soups, except by the Germans 

 who use it in the same manner as potatoes for potato salad. Planted 

 7 or 8 inches apart and 3 feet between the rows it will yield abun- 

 dantly, and succeed best where celery will. The edible portion 

 develops into a bulbous root weighing 4 to 6 ounces when trimmed, 

 and these bulbs when properly packed away in the cellar will keep 

 almost until spring. Where the ground but slightly freezes, the 

 plants may be safely left unharvested for spring use. (F. B. 255, 

 295; Mich. E. S. 20.) 



CELERY. 



The ideal climatic conditions for the production of celery are 

 bright sunshine, pure air, cool nights, and a well-distributed rainfall 

 of about 8 inches during the growing period in the field or garden. 



Soils. In the production of celery for domestic use, a rich, 

 mellow, sandy loam will give the best results. The soil of the seed 

 bed should contain plenty of leaf mold and should be passed through 

 a sieve having not less than six meshes to the inch. The soil of the 

 transplanting bed need not be sifted so fine, and some well-rotted 

 barnyard manure should replace a part of the leaf mold; in other 

 respects it should be the same as that of the seed bed. Any fertile, 

 well-drained soil will grow celery, but a loose, sandy loam is prefer- 

 able. If nothing but clay soil is available, it may be made to produce 

 gx>d celery by the liberal application of well-rotted barnyard manure, 

 n clay soils there is likely to be injury caused by the soil becoming 

 washed into the hearts of the plants while they are yet small. 



Fertilizers. For the production of the home supply of celery 

 there is no fertilizer that is so satisfactory as well-rotted barnyard 

 manure. In many localities the supply of manure is limited, and it 

 may be necessary to depend almost entirely upon commercial fer- 

 tilizers. If fresh stable manure is used, it should be plowed under in 

 the autumn. If the manure is well rotted, it may be plowed under 

 early in the spring or used as a top-dressing a short time before plant- 

 ing in order to bring the manure to the surface. From 10 to 20 tons 

 of manure to the acre should be applied each year that the land is 

 planted to celery. The application of lime will improve most soils. 

 Following the use of stable manure an application of 1,000 pounds 

 of ground quicklime as a top dressing will be beneficial. Soils that 

 are liable to leach during the winter can be held by planting to rye 

 and the crop turned under quite early in the spring. When applied to 

 clay soils the lime has a tendency to lighten them, and sandy soils are 



