250 THE HOME ACRE. 



lost a fine crop early in November. The frost in 

 one night penetrated the soil deeply, and when it 

 thawed out, the celery never revived. Never 

 handle celery when it is frozen. My method of 

 preserving this vegetable for winter use is sim- 

 ply this. During some mild, clear day in early 

 November I have a trench ten inches wide dug 

 nearly as deep as the celery is tall. This trench 

 is dug on a warm dry slope, so that by no possi- 

 bility can water gather in it. Then the plants are 

 taken up carefully and stored in the trench, the 

 roots on the bottom, the plants upright as they 

 grew, and pressed closely together so as to occupy 

 all the space in the excavation. The foliage rises 

 a little above the surface, which is earthed up 

 about four inches, so that water will be shed on 

 either side. Still enough of the leaves are left in 

 the light to permit all the breathing necessary; 

 for plants breathe as truly as we do. As long as 

 the weather keeps mild, this is all that is needed; 

 but there is no certainty now. A hard black frost 

 may come any night. I advise that an abundance 

 of leaves or straw be gathered near. When a 

 bleak November day promises a black frost at 

 night, scatter the leaves, etc., thickly over the 

 trenched celery, and do not take them off until 

 the mercury rises above freezing-point. If a warm 

 spell sets in, expose the foliage to the air again. 



