VI PREFACE 



of the celery crop have kept pace with the improve- 

 ment in production. Formerly the entire crop was 

 washed and bunched before shipment, but it has been 

 learned that celery will bear transportation much better 

 if a part of the roots and outer stems are allowed to 

 remain upon it until after shipment. There are yet 

 a number of vexing problems connected with the 

 commercial production of celery, prominent among 

 which are the control of diseases and the securing of 

 competent labor. 



In this book an endeavor has been made to give plain 

 directions both for the production of a home supply of 

 celery and its culture on an extensive commercial basis. 

 The information has been obtained from practical ex- 

 perience and from observation of the methods em- 

 ployed by the most successful growers. Many of the 

 illustrations are from photographs taken upon a num- 

 ber of the most extensive celery plantations in the coun- 

 try. The author is indebted to the United States 

 Department of Agriculture for the loan of several il- 

 lustrations ; to Prof. W. G. Johnson for several pho- 

 tographs ; to B. F. Williamson for many of the ex- 

 cellent drawings ; and, finally, to a number of seedsmen 

 and tool manufacturers for courtesies extended. 



With the exception of those for which credit is given, 

 all the illustrations are original. 



W. R. Beattie. 



Washington, D. C, April, ipoy. 



