CHAPTER XIV 



Varieties of Celery 



Celery is listed in the seed trade catalogues 

 under 75 or 100 varietal names, many of which, 

 however, are synonymous. Fully 85 per cent, of 

 the commercial crop grown in this country is of 

 the self-blanching type, particularly Golden Self- 

 blanching and White Plume. The varieties that do 

 not have the self-blanching character are perhaps 

 a little more hardy and disease-resistant. The self- 

 blanching character is a sort of albinism acquired 

 by breeding and selection and has resulted, to a 

 limited degree at least, in the constitutional w^eak- 

 ening of the plant. The self-blanching tendency is 

 of so great advantage in a commercial variety that 

 the growers are willing to sacrifice a part of the 

 hardiness in order to secure a plant that w411 blanch 

 readily. 



Self-blanching Varieties. — JVhitc Plume is a rapid 

 growing variety ; height 20 to 24 inches ; stems long, 

 slender, broadened at base ; foliage light green, 

 spreading; inner stems and leaves pale green or 

 white ; blanches easily ; ready for market early. 



Golden Self -blanching. — Rather slow growing at 

 first ; somewdiat dwarf, 14 to 20 inches in height ; 

 stems short, thick, and golden yellow color, easily 

 blanching to a rich creamy white ; foliage abundant, 



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