XVIII 

 CELERY 



CELERY may be grown by anybody, almost any- 

 where. Ideal climatic conditions, however, require 

 bright sunshine, pure air, cool nights, even rain- 

 fall. Kich, mellow, well-drained sandy loam is 

 ideal soil for garden celery. The largest part of 

 the market crop is produced on the heavy fertile 

 soil of river-bottoms or in the muck-bed areas of 

 lake regions. Such moist peat-bog lands produce 

 the biggest most succulent growth. The celery 

 thus grown does not have quite so fine a flavor, 

 however, and does not keep so well as that grown 

 on looser, more sandy, upland soil. For the home 

 supply, excellent celery may be grown in any fruit- 

 ful, well-drained, well-cared-for soil, even clay. 

 Add to the clay, the fall before, plenty of humus 

 and well-rotted manure ; keep the surface continu- 

 ally stirred during growth, to prevent packing; 

 watcli out after a hard heavy rain to see that this 

 pasty soil, when washed into the hearts of the 

 young plants, does not smother new growth ; and 

 with proper care, even clay will grow excellent 

 celery. Red pasty clay may be made over into 



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