64 THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



the soil, and the bed wet through the cloth, is often recom- 

 mended, and if the cloth is always wet and taken off the 

 bed as soon as the seed sprouts it can be used. After the 

 young plants have grown to the height of 1 or 2 in. they 

 must be thinned out, leaving the plants so that they do not 

 touch each other, and transplanting those thinned if wanted 

 to other ground prepared in the same manner as the seed 

 bed. All these plants may be sheared or cut back to in- 

 duce stockiness. 



If in a private garden, the ground on which the fall 

 crop is usually set will likely be land from which a crop of 

 some early vegetable has been taken. This land should be 

 again well enriched with fine, well rotted manure, to which 

 may be added a liberal amount of wood ashes. If the ma- 

 nure or ashes are not easily obtained, a small amount may 

 be used by plowing or digging out a furrow 8 or 12 in. deep, 

 scattering the manuie and ashes in the bottom of the trench 

 and filling it up almost level with the surface. The plants 

 should be set about the middle of July, preferably just before 

 a rain. The plant bed should have a thorough soaking 

 shortly before the plants are lifted, and each plant be trim- 

 med, both top and root, before setting. The plants should 

 be set from 5 to 6 in. apart in the rows and the earth well 

 firmed around each one. 



The after- cultivation consists in thorough tillage 

 until the time of " handling " or earthing up the 

 plants. This process of handling is accomplished by 

 drawing up the earth with one hand while holding the 

 plant with the other, packing the soil well around the stalks. 

 This process may be continued until only the leaves are to 

 be seen. For the private grower, it is much easier to blanch 

 the Celery with boards or paper, or if the Celery is not 

 wanted until winter, the plants may be dug up, packed 

 closely in boxes, covering the roots with soil, and placed in 

 a dark, cool cellar, where the stalks will blanch themselves. 

 In this manner Celery may be stored in boxes in the bouse 



