CHAPTER XVIII. 

 CELERY. 



CELERY. Apium graveolens. 



French, celeri; German, sellerie; Danish, seller!; Italian, sedano apio; 

 Spanish, apio. 



CELERI AC. 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 distant markets be- 

 came a considerable industry, giving great value to lands suited to 

 its uses, and reaching a product valued in 1916 at a million dollars. 

 Annual shipments are about 3000 carloads, of which about three- 

 fourths are produced in the delta region of the Sacramento and San 

 Joaquin rivers and on lowlands near Sacramento, and one-fourth 

 in Los Angeles and Orange counties. 



In many parts of the state, especially on low, moist lands which 

 are frequently of saline character, wild celery grows thriftily, and 

 its growth has served as an incentive to commercial planting. This 

 wild celery is, however, not a native plant. It is merely the garden 

 celery which has escaped from cultivation and the escape must have 

 been at an early date, for the occurrence was noted by botanists at 

 least thirty years ago. It is now widely distributed. 



Locations for Celery. Celery thrives best in an equable, cool 

 temperature, but it accepts conditions in the "cool night" districts 

 on the lower lands of the interior valley. It does not well endure 

 high heat; it is hardy against California valley frosts, and it de- 

 mands adequate moisture. It is, therefore, successfully grown in 

 the fall and winter in regions where summer heat is too high, and 

 in the equable coast climate it can be enjoyed all the year, provid- 

 ing ample soil moisture can be assured. Commercially, it is summer 



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