Celery 



371 



and should retain moisture to the top. Preferably, it 

 should be protected from hot and dry winds. Some per- 

 sons prefer to have the bed partially shaded; but if the 

 shading is too dense, the plants are likely to be soft and 

 tender when taken to the field, and they are killed by 

 sun -scald. It is advisable, whenever possible, to have 

 the seed-bed in such place that it can be watered every 



Fig. 112. Celery seedlings. Natural size. 



evening if necessary; but care must be exercised that 

 the watering is not so heavy that it packs and puddles 

 the soil. Sometimes the bed is covered with boards, 

 brush or straw, in order to maintain the moisture until 

 germination has taken place. This may be advisable, but 

 if the covering is left on too long, the plants make a 

 very weak and spindling growth and are worthless. If 

 covering is used, it is well to remove it gradually as the 

 plants germinate. The ideal seed-bed, however, is one 

 that does not need a cover, but which holds the moisture 

 of itself. In order to secure stocky plants, they should 

 be transplanted once or twice in the seed-bed, or they 



