l80 MAKING HORTICULTURE PAY 



is not true. The seed grows with much more cer- 

 tainty if covered reasonably, one-fourth to one-half 

 inch. If sown broadcast, rake it in and press 

 the soil down with a board. 



" The soil may be any good garden soil. The essen- 

 tials are a soil that will not bake, plenty of fertility, 

 and water. Here, again, we often hear the state- 

 ment that celery must have a muck bed to be a 

 success. I have grown celery for over 20 years on 

 a sandy loam, varying all the way from a sharp 

 sand to a black loam with very little sand in it. 

 Given the required amount of fertility and moisture, 

 the loam soil does better than the muck. The 

 quality of the muck-grown stock is not nearly up 

 to that grown on loam. 



" An old strawberry bed which was well manured 

 and plowed when set makes a very fine celery bed. 

 As soon as the berries are off, spread on a liberal 

 dressing of well-rotted, fine manure and plow; then 

 another dressing of fine manure on top, disk very 

 thoroughly and drag. Do not begrudge a little 

 work here, as good preparation is a necessity to 

 good success. 



" At this time the plants should be, if you have 

 taken good care of them, about 6 or 8 inches high, 

 and the size of a large lead pencil. Pull only the 

 largest plants and clip the roots to 3 to 4 inches 

 and the tops to 4 to 5 inches long. Wet at once 

 to prevent wilting. It is important that celery be 

 set in straight rows, so draw a line up taut where 

 the row is to be and set plants close to it. 



" The plants should be 5 to 6 inches apart in the 

 row and the rows 3^^ to 4 feet apart. In setting 

 use a common garden trowel to open the hole and 

 be sure it is as deep as the root is long. Set the 

 plants in so only the root is in the ground and pack 



