142 CELERY 



ary to apply about one ton of rotted manure to each square rod 

 of ground. The plants are set six inches apart in rows only eight 

 to ten inches from one another. Usually the plants are arranged 

 in beds about twelve feet wide for convenience in working among 

 them with hand tools. When they have grown so much that tillage 

 can no longer be given, boards are placed edgewise around each 

 bed in order to blanch the outside rows (Fig. 85). Under thorough 

 watering, the plants eventually make so dense a mass of foliage 

 that no sunlight is able to penetrate to the stalks below. Under 

 these conditions, the early or self-blanching varieties become as 

 fully blanched as if boards were used for every row (Fig. 86). 



This method of celery culture is especially adapted to furnish- 

 ing a home supply if the celery bed can be placed within range of 

 a hose connected with a water supply under pressure. 



CELERIAC OR TURNIP-ROOTED CELERY 



This plant is also known among gardeners as " root celery " 

 and " German celery." It greatly resembles celery in general 

 appearance, and in their early stages of development it is difficult 

 to distinguish between the two. However, in celeriac, it is the 

 enlarged root, rather than the leaf stalk, which constitutes the 

 edible product (Fig. 87). In a well-grown specimen the root is 

 three to four inches in diameter. Celeriac is used chiefly in flavor- 

 ing soups and making salads, but may also be creamed and served 

 as a side dish. 



The culture of celeriac is like that of late celery except that 

 no blanching is required. The seed is sown in flats or carefully 

 prepared seed-beds, the plants shifted once before their final 

 transplanting to the field, and the crop given good tillage and 

 plenty of water during its growth. Celeriac is considered a less 

 exacting crop than celery, but does not produce full-sized roots 

 unless the weather is cool and the soil rich. The crop is harvested 

 late in fall and is sometimes, though not usually, stored for winter 

 use. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Compare the present importance of celery with its status thirty or forty 



years ago. 



2. What soil and climatic conditions are essential to successful commercial 



celery culture? 



3. Why is not celery more generally grown in home gardens? 



