CELERY. 75 



crowded, the roots spread out upon the surface, and 

 are constantly subject to slight droughts. In the case 

 of a strong central root system, the plant is nourished 

 from the portion of the soil that is constantly moist. 

 Another decided advantage is that the plants may be 

 transplanted with less injury to the root system. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



Fine plants for transplanting are offered for sale 

 every year at such a low price that it is difficult to see 

 where the profit to the plant-grower comes from. 

 However cheap plants may be in the market, it is 

 preferable to grow your own plants and your own 

 seed. It, however, happens sometimes, through the 

 neglect or carelessness of the employees, that celery 

 plants must be bought or the crop abandoned for that 

 year. 



If one has to buy plants from a distance, the land 

 must be entirely ready to receive the plants when 

 they arrive. If it happens to be a dry spell, the 

 plants must be put into a bed where they can be 

 shaded and water in abundance be supplied. A 

 quantity of the plants can then be set out, from time 

 to time, as one is able to take care of them. The set- 

 ting out must not be delayed, for the plants will soon 

 form roots from the reserve material within them- 

 selves ; and if this has to be done the second time, it 

 will be a severe draft on the plant. If one has raised 

 his own plants, he may delay transplanting for weeks, 

 awaiting a rain. If the land is in perfect readiness, 

 as soon as the plants are large enough, which will be 

 in October or November, they can be set out at the 

 proper time. A good time to transplant is when the 

 leafstalks are three inches long, but fine celery has 

 been raised when they were nearly six inches long. 



The distance between the rows is three or four feet, 



