CELERY 123 



The same attention must be given to furnish an 

 even supply of moisture, to insure steady healthy 

 growth and so prevent damping-off. The plants 

 must be kept cool. For those in the trays, plenty 

 of fresh air will be needed. For those in the open 

 ground, protection against driving wind and hard 

 rain will be provided by using the burlap bag- 

 ging. Tillage will now be needed. It must be 

 shallow, for the root tendrils of celery plants like 

 to run close to the surface. Stir the top soil often 

 between the rows to keep out the weeds and to 

 hold the moisture up close to the tiny foragers. 

 Such attention will insure healthy steady growth 

 until our inch-high frail seedlings have become 

 robust and sturdy. 



When the celery plants are 4 or 5 inches in 

 height, if they should still be rather frail, a sec- 

 ond handling might be an advantage. If, however, 

 they are stocky and dark green in color, they are 

 ready for setting in the permanent row. Pro- 

 vide plenty of room, all that can be spared; and 

 stake the rows from 3 to 5 feet apart. Five feet 

 between the rows will allow us to choose any 

 process of blanching. The celery strip has just 

 been freshly fitted and is all ready. For this last 

 handling, choose a damp showery day, if possible. 

 Between showers is an ideal time. Soak the soil 

 thoroughly in the seedling or handling bed a few 

 hours before lifting the plants. Kaise them care- 

 fully with the sticky wet earth attached to the 



