190 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



difference between the two methods consists in the means 

 adopted for blanching. In English gardens this is done by the 

 usual means of covering the stems with earth, whereas in 

 French gardens this end is attained by other means, covering 

 with earth being considered unnecessary. 



The English method is to make the beds from 4ft. to 10ft. 

 wide and any convenient length, with spaces between each bed 

 varying from 2ft. to 4ft. wide. Soil to the depth of Gin. is taken 

 from the beds and laid in these spaces or alleys, and the beds 

 are then covered thickly with manure, which is dug in. The 

 banks of soil in the alleys are levelled and planted with quick- 

 growing crops. The Celery is set in rows across the bed, from 

 6in. to lOin. apart, and from 12in. to 15in. between the rows, 

 according to the variety. The plants stand so closely together 





Celery Planted in Broad Beds. 



that they grow upright with partially blanched stems. The 

 beds need hoeing two or three times whilst the plants are 

 young, but as soon as the leaves of two rows touch, hoeing 

 ceases. In this system, where the ground is covered with a 

 dense mass of plants and foliage, it is absolutely essential to 

 success that the ground is made very rich with plant foods, 

 either in the form of large quantities of manure, or a moderate 

 quantity supplemented by suitable fertilizers, and that they 

 have in addition, copious supplies of water. Unless these two 

 conditions are properly carried out it is useless to attempt to 

 grow Celery on this system. 



Earthing-up offers difficulties, but these can be overcome 

 in the following manner: Get two boards, each lOin. wide and 

 as long as the bed is wide, with pieces projecting from the 

 upper part of each end for handles to lift them by. These are 

 set up on edge between two rows of plants, one on each side, 

 pegs being pushed in at each end to hold them in position. 

 The space between the boards is then filled up with soil thrown 



