64 VEGEC.ULTURE 



a garden may, in time, receive a thorough deep trenching and 

 subsoil manuring, by a system of devoting a different portion 

 of the ground each year to Celery-trenches, which could not 

 very well be given to it otherwise ; for the breaking up of the 

 subsoil, and the absorption thereof of enormous manurial 

 applications principally liquid must eventually bring about 

 a reaction in the most stubborn soil, and eventually produce a 

 splendid state of friability and fertility. 



There are several methods of growing Celery. Some persons 

 prefer a trench with one row of plants down its centre ; others 

 provide a much wider trench, and plant two rows instead of one ; 

 while an excellent system, where circumstances warrant, is to 

 take out a trench four or five feet wide excavating, indeed, a 

 sunken bed across which the plants are set in rows. Too 

 deep and narrow trenches are often the cause of much trouble. 

 Celery, like other vegetable plants, must have light and air 

 to facilitate growth, and the trenches are only provided to meet 

 its two main requirements the abundant provision of enormous 

 supplies of clear and manurial liquid, and the necessity of 

 thoroughly blanching the stalks. 



Celery, in its natural habitat, is a waterside plant, in which 

 state it is neither desirable or useful, as its properties are then 

 poisonous rather than beneficial ; hence, even under cultivation 

 its green leaves and stalks retain much that is injurious to the 

 consumer, this disability being effectively got rid of by the 

 process of blanching. 



Again it is necessary to emphasize and it is so often for- 

 gotten! that Celery requires ample air, light, and space for 

 development ; and it is only when maturity is within reasonable 

 distance, and the plants are to be prepared for edible purposes, 

 that these growing essentials may be withdrawn ; even then, 

 only to a certain extent, for when the Celery is earthed up 

 a limited amount of air and light penetrates the covering. 

 Therefore, Celery plants may not be planted in what is really 

 a damp, narrow ditch, cut out of a hard soil, with any expecta- 

 tion of good results being indulged in by the grower. 



Seeds of this vegetable are sown early in the year, under 

 glass, upon a hotbed or hot-water pipes in the greenhouse, or 

 in a propagator. Germination is somewhat slow. The seedlings 

 must be pricked out early. into boxes or frames, and grown on 

 sturdily dose to the glass. When they have attained a handy 

 size, a very rich bed should be prepared for their reception, in 

 a warm position, wherein they are transplanted, and given every 



