116 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



almost ideal soil; but loose, well-drained sandy 

 loam is to be preferred. 



For the best results, any soil must have careful 

 preparation. The fall and spring care of our gar- 

 den has already made the soil nearly suited for 

 successful celery growing. In its fall preparation, 

 plenty of humus was provided and also a gener- 

 ous supply of well-rotted manure. Both were in- 

 corporated in the soil when it was plowed. The 

 spring preparation furnished a thorough dressing 

 of the highest grade commercial fertilizer, 4-8- 

 10 being used. It will be an advantage for cel- 

 ery to follow some soil-enriching crop like early 

 peas. When the peas have been harvested and 

 the celery strip is fitted, about a week before the 

 plants are ready to be set, additional food may 

 well be supplied. Celery profits by potash and 

 nitrogen. A 6-5-10 mixture, therefore, would 

 be correct. Experiments have shown that wood- 

 ashes are the best potash provider for celery. 

 With that, sodium nitrate works well. We might 

 use, instead of the 6-5-10, a dressing of un- 

 leached ashes and some nitrate along the celery 

 strip. Whichever is chosen, work the fertilizer 

 into the row, in a strip about 18 inches wide. Salt 

 was put on in the fall. More may be scattered on 

 the ground when it is freshly cultivated just before 

 planting time. Some of the salt is said to be taken 

 up by the growing celery and the flavor thereby 

 improved. 



