96 CELERY CULTURE 



by the presence of the green coloring matter. The 

 method of blanching to be employed must be de- 

 termined largely by circumstances and the time 

 when the crop is to be used. If for early use or 

 marketing, the blanching must be completed where 

 the plants are grown ; but if the celery be for winter 

 use the blanching may take place after the crop 

 has been removed from the field and placed in stor- 

 age. When planting for early use it is desirable 

 to choose one of the self-blanching kinds, such as 

 may be easily blanched. 



Blanching by Means of Boards. — For completing 

 the blanching of the self-blanching varieties the 

 method in most general use consists of setting 12- 

 inch boards on edge along both sides of the rows. 

 In localities where the cost of lumber is too great 

 for practical use, the blanching can be accomplished 

 by banking with earth. The boards employed for 

 blanching purposes should be i inch thick, about 12 

 inches wide, and of any desired length that can be 

 easily handled. The cheaper grades of lumber will 

 answer the purpose, but new lumber is liable to im- 

 part an unpleasant flavor to the celery. In placing 

 the boards in position, slip one edge well under the 

 outside leaves of the plants, then bring this edge 

 upward to a vertical position along the row, having 

 another board at the same time placed on the other 

 side so that when the boards are in position there 

 will be as little space between them as the thickness 

 of the plants will permit. These boards may, when 

 used on a small scale only, be fastened in position 

 by means of stakes driven in the ground, by nailing 



