390 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



bottom should be avoided. The bottom of the trench must first 

 of all be thoroughly broken up with a fork, and the manure be then 

 mixed with the subsoil. 



When this has been done the trench should be filled hi to within 

 six inches of the top with a deep layer of fine rich soil, into which 

 the plants may be put. It will be found a good plan to place them 

 in a regular line or lines at least nine inches apart. It is a mistake 

 to plant too closely; good celery needs plenty of room. When 

 planting see that it is done firmly, so as to induce a good root-run. 



The after-treatment consists first of all in preventing the young 

 plants from flagging at the outset of their sojourn in the trenches. 

 This can be accomplished by laying bushy sticks across the trenches 

 so as to shade the young celery from hot sunshine, and by syring- 

 ing the plants twice a day until they have taken a firm hold of the 

 soil. Constant attention must be paid to watering, for whichever 

 part of the garden goes short in this respect the celery trenches must 

 on no account be neglected. Water must therefore be supplied 

 in copious quantities. 



But pure water will not be sufficient to produce fine, succulent 

 heads of celery. The plants will require a stimulant from time 

 to time, and this may take the form of weak liquid manure water 

 applied once a week, or of a dressing of one or other of the artificial 

 manures in commerce at the present time. If applied in the dry 

 state these concentrated fertilisers should be sprinkled lightly 

 along the trenches, but only after the latter have been thoroughly 

 soaked with water. Care must also be taken to keep these 

 manures off the foliage, otherwise it may be damaged. Another 

 excellent stimulant is a weak solution of soot, diluted until it is 

 the colour of weak tea. 



As the plants grow taller the trench must be gradually filled in 

 to the top, holding all the leaves together as the soil is packed in. 

 If only a single row is cultivated the plants will require earthing 

 up on each side as they advance in growth. 



HORSERADISH. This is a vegetable which the amateur 

 gardener frequently fails to grow well. Too often he thrusts 

 a piece of root into any odd corner of the vegetable plot, 



