CELERY. 71 



up the leaves, and with the other draw the loose earth 

 against the plants, so as to keep them compact and 

 upright : when the lines are thus finished, a more 

 considerable quantity of earth maybe pared in against 

 the plants. In about three weeks, as the plants pro- 

 ceed in growth, they will require another earthing 

 up, and will soon afterwards be found sufficiently 

 blanched for use. The longer the plants remain, 

 the more earthing up they require. In taking up 

 the plants for use, it is best to begin at one end of 

 a row, and dig clean down to the roots, (which then 

 loosen with the spade,) that they may be drawn up 

 entire without breaking the stalks. 



The next successive crop to be attended to, is 

 what is generally called the principal. The seed of 

 the red and white solid stalked varieties is to be 

 sown on a warm spot of rich mellow ground, the 

 first week in April, and raked in lightly and regu- 

 larly ; a little shelter may sometimes be necessary 

 at first, should the weather become very wet or 

 frosty. 



When the plants are two, three, or four inches 

 high, thin the seed-bed, and prick out a quantity in 

 beds three or four inches apart, as advised for the 

 .early sowing; water them; and if the weather is 

 warm, shade them for a few days, until they have 

 struck root. They remain in the bed for four or five 

 weeks, till they are from six to ten inches high, and 

 have acquired a stocky growth. They are then 

 Anally transplanted into the trenches for blanching, 

 exactly similar to the early crop. If large celery 

 is wanted, they have only to be planted a little 

 wider apart in the lines. As the plants advance in 

 F 4 



