76 Southern Oardener^s Practical Manual 



around the roots until all moisture is covered. When 

 planted in this way it is not desirable to press the soil to 

 the roots, since the water will accomplish all that is needed 

 in this respect. If water is not used, however, the soil 

 should be pressed firmly upon the roots. If transplanting 

 is practiced, celery may be grown as a second crop after 

 potatoes, beets, peas, beans or onions, and will need no 

 new application of manure if these crops were properly 

 fertilized, except, perhaps, one hundred pounds of nitrate 

 of soda sown by the side of the rows after the plants 

 have taken possession of the soil. Since the leaf -stalks 

 constitute the edible part, it is important that the late 

 summer growth should be grown rapidly to make these 

 stems large and tender. Planting thick to induce self- 

 blanching is sometimes practiced. Under this system, 

 the plants are set one foot each way on very fertile soil 

 and cultivated with the hoe until the plants are large 

 enough to shade out grass and weeds. The outside rows 

 and ends of such beds are protected by wide boards to 

 assist in excluding light. Planted in this way, the 

 leaves are forced to stretch up after sunlight and, while 

 growing taller, the leaf -stalks are not so large nor brittle 

 as when grown and blanched by the more laborious 

 method of earthing up the plants. The self-blanching 

 varieties should be selected for this plan of culture. 

 July and August are the best months for transplanting, 

 since the plants properly set and cultivated will be suffi- 

 ciently large to commence "handling" by the last of 

 September, which is as early as is safe to begin this work 

 in the southern states. If they are earthed up too early, 

 the warm weather will cause rotting of the leaves. Since 



