124 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



roots, and lay them in little piles along the row. 

 If the sun should shine out and the air become 

 dry, keep the plants covered in a shallow basket 

 or a tray. Place the early plants 4 inches apart 

 in the row. The later varieties with bigger growth 

 need more room, 5 to 6 inches or even more. Set 

 them no deeper than they were in the bed. Press 

 the soil firmly about the roots, taking pains that 

 it does not get into the heart. Mulching is con- 

 sidered an especial advantage in growing celery. 



After the first handling, if the young celery 

 plants are thrifty, they will feed near the surface ; 

 that is, if the water supply is evenly distributed 

 so that the soil is moist to the top. Otherwise, 

 like all roots, they will work deeper as the upper 

 soil dries. The best feeding-ground is near the top, 

 because there the soil is more perfectly aerated 

 and plant-food is becoming most quickly avail- 

 able. Therefore, the best means must be used to 

 induce fibrous roots like celery to feed high. The 

 dust mulch is an advantage, because that hinders 

 evaporation and renders the soil fairly evenly 

 moist, A mulch of some loose material spread 

 over the soil does more ; it shades the surface and 

 keeps it cool and, thus preventing evaporation, 

 holds the moisture clear to the top of the ground. 

 For this special mulch, lawn clippings or ground 

 corn-stalks or well-rotted strawy manure are rec- 

 ommended. Have a basketful or a pile near by. 

 As the plants are set, spread the mulch evenly 



