CHAPTER XVIII. 

 CELERY. 



Celery. Apium graveolens. 



French, celeri; German, sellerie; Danish, seller!; 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 sub- 

 ject to coast influences, and, therefore, with moderated 

 summer temperature, the celery plant makes a grand sum- 

 mer 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 de- 

 scribed 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 grow- 

 ing for distant markets is a rapidly advancing industry, 

 and has given great value to lands suited to its uses. It 

 is estimated that not less than 6000 acres have been plant- 

 ed in a single year in Orange county, and that the aver- 

 age value of the product on board cars at the nearest sta- 

 tion is from $250 to $400 per acre, according to price and 

 product except, of course, when disease causes losses as 

 will be mentioned later. There is also a considerable pro- 



