CULTURE OF BULB AND STEM CHOPS. 103 



Celery. 



Botanical Name : Apium graveolens. 

 Natural Order : Umbelliferce. 



The celery plant is a native of Europe. It appears 

 to have been cultivated in this country for about 

 three hundred years. It is a moisture-loving plant, 

 but succeeds best in a free, warm soil. 



Culture. Sow in boxes under glass early in 

 March, and when the seedlings are strong enough, 

 transplant them into other boxes, 3 inches apart 

 each way, in good compost. Grow on steadily in a 

 moderate temperature, and towards the end of April 

 place the boxes in a cold frame, to harden the plants 

 off gradually before transplanting them into trenches. 

 The trenches should be prepared some time in ad- 

 vance, each trench being made 2 feet wide, and the 

 soil 1 foot deep taken out and placed along each 

 side. Dig over the bottom of the trench, working- 

 in a thick layer of decayed manure, mixing it well 

 with the soil. Place above this about 5 inches of 

 the surface soil, and then apply a good dressing of 

 basic slag or steamed bone flour, along with a potash 

 fertiliser. Wood ashes, if available, may also be 

 added. Rake the ashes into the soil and leave until 

 planting time. Planting may be done from the 

 middle to the end of May if the weather is favourable, 

 otherwise leave it over for genial conditions. Tramp 

 the bottom of the trench lightly to firm the soil and 

 manure. Plant two rows 12 inches apart and 6 inches 

 from the sides of the trench, allowing about 10 inches 

 between the plants in the rows. In shallow soils 



