324 How THE FARM PAYS. 



in November, will be blanched fit for use during January, February 

 and March, though for succession it will be better to put it in the 

 boxes, from the open ground, at three different times, say October 25th, 

 November 10th and November 20th. Or if the boxes are not at 

 hand, the Celery may be put away on the floor of the cellar, in strips 

 of eight or nine inches wide, divided by boards of a width equal to 

 the height of the Celery. That is, if the Celery is two feet high, the 

 boards separating it must be about the same height. The reason for 

 dividing the Celery in these narrow strips by boards is to prevent 

 heating, which would take place if placed together in too thick 

 masses. The dates above given apply, of course, to the latitude of 

 New York; if further south, do the work later; if further north, earlier. 

 If one has no suitable cellar, the Celery can be very readily 

 preserved in the manner followed by market gardeners. Thus, after 

 it has been " handled " or straightened up, as before described, what 

 is intended for use by Christmas should be dug up about October 

 25th; that to be used in January and February, by November 10th; 

 and that for March use, by November 20th, which latter date is as 

 late as it can be risked here. Although it will stand quite a sharp 

 frost, the weather by the end of November is often severe enough to 

 kill it, or so freeze it in the ground that it cannot be dug up. The 

 ground in which it is to be preserved for winter use must be as dry 

 as possible, and so arranged that no water can remain in the trench. 

 Dig a trench as narrow as possible (it should not be wider than ten 

 inches), and of a depth equal to the height of the Celery; that is, if 

 the plant of Celery be eighteen inches high, the trench should 

 be dug eighteen inches deep. The Celery is then packed exactly 

 in the manner described for storing in boxes to be placed in 

 the cellar; that is, stand it as near upright as possible, and 

 pack as closely together as can be done without bruising it; no soil 

 or sand must be put between the stalks. As the weather becomes 

 cold, the trenches should be gradually covered with leaves or litter to 

 the thickness of six or eight inches, which will be enough to prevent 

 severe freezing, and enable the roots to be taken out easily when 

 wanted. Another method now practiced by the market gardeners of 

 New Jersey is as follows: before the approach of very cold weather 

 say the middle of December the Celery in the trenches is pressed 

 somewhat closely together by passing a spade down deeply alongside 

 of the trench on each side, but about three or four inches from the 

 Celery. It is best done by two men, so that they press against each 

 other, thus firming the top of the Celery in the trench until it is com- 

 pact enough to sustain a weight of three or four inches of soil, which 

 is taken from the sides of the trench and spread over the Celery. 



