CHAPTER V 



The Production of Plants 



In order to produce a satisfactory crop of celery 

 it is essential to first secure good plants. Many 

 of the reported failures in celery growing can be 

 traced directly to careless methods of handling 

 the plants. In the first place good seed is essential, 

 but it can be procured from any reliable seedsman, 

 and the price paid should be such that the dealer 

 will be justified in furnishing the best that the 

 seed market affords. Celery seed is practically 

 worthless when more than one year old, and if for 

 any reason it is desirable to keep seed from one 

 year to another it should be enclosed in a close-fit- 

 ting tin box, or sealed in a fruit jar, and stored 

 where it will be free from changes of temperature 

 and humidity. A large percentage of celery seed 

 will germinate the second season, or even after a 

 number of years, but the plants so produced will 

 lack vigor and be more liable to the attacks of 

 disease than those from fresh seed. Owing to the 

 minute size of celery seed, an ounce or two will be 

 sufficient for the small market gardener, and a 

 packet will produce all the plants required for the 

 home garden. European-grown celery seed is pre- 

 ferred by most gardeners, especially of the self- 

 blanching sorts, although there are a number of 



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