62 



THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



is the same as given for celery, except that no earthing or 

 blanching is required. About an equal number of plants are 

 obtained from the same weight of seed as from celery seed. 

 Celeriac is extensively used abroad, but, unfortunately, is 

 little grown in America. 



Celery has become one of the favorite relish 

 and salad vegetables, and is now very generally grown. The 

 self-blanching varieties have simplified the culture so that 

 the amateur, as well as the expert, may have a supply 

 through at least six months of the year. The so-called new 

 culture, which consists of setting the plants close together 

 and causing them to shade each other, can be recommended 

 for the garden when a supply of well rotted manure is to be 

 had, and when any amount of water is available. This 

 method is as follows : Fork or spade 

 into the soil a large quantity of manure 

 to the depth of 10-12 in., pulverize the 

 soil until the ground for the depth of 4-6 

 in. is in very fine condition. Then set 

 the plants in rows 10 in. apart and the 

 plants but 5 or 6 in. apart in the rows. 

 It will be seen that plants set as close 

 as this will soon fill the soil with a mass 

 of roots and must have large amounts 

 of plant-food, as well as a large quan- 

 tity of water ; and the making of such 

 a bed can be recommended only to 

 those who can supply these needs. 



The common practice in home gardens is to plow or dig a 

 shallow trench, setting the plants in the bottom and hoeing 

 in the soil as the plants grow. The distance apart of the 

 rows and plants will depend on the varieties. For the dwarf 

 varieties, such as White Plume, Golden Self -blanching and 

 others of that type, the rows may be as close as 3 ft. and the 

 plants 6 in. in the rows. For the large-growing varieties, as 

 Kalamazoo, Giant Pascal and, in fact, most of the late varie- 



Celery 



