CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 309 



to water between the rows, and thus the foliage is kept 

 dry. The soil should also be stirred occasionally, and 

 the temperature kept sufficiently high to maintain a 

 healthy, vigorous growth. Thinning is done if the plants 

 stand too close together. 



When losses have previously occurred from damping- 

 off fungi, the only safe course is to sterilize the soil with 

 steam or formaldehyde. When the latter is used, a mix- 

 ture of 2 pounds of formaldehyde with 5 gallons of water 

 will give good results. Some growers also sterilize the 

 seed by placing it for a few minutes in a solution made 

 by adding 2 ounces of copper sulphate to ^2 gallon of 

 water. The seed should be dried thoroughly after this 

 treatment. 



When the rough leaves appear, the tiny seedlings are 

 transplanted into fiats or beds. An inch and one-half 

 each way is generally ample space, and some growers 

 plant only i% inches apart, but if to be held for a longer 

 period than usual, plant 2 by 2 inches apart. Before 

 planting, the flats should be about half filled with rotten 

 manure and then completely filled with a good garden 

 soil containing plenty of rotten manure and some sand 

 if available. The boxes should be kept in the hotbed 

 or the greenhouse until the plants are well established 

 and are making a vigorous growth. Then if the weather 

 is not too cold, they may be taken to the cold frame. This 

 transfer is a critical operation, unless proper care is ex- 

 ercised in providing the right temperature. Young celery 

 plants require about as much heat as tomato seedlings. 

 A desirable precaution against fungous diseases is to 

 spray with bordeaux mixture before taking to the cold 

 frame as well as to the open ground. 



Seed for the late crop is usually sown in the open or 

 in protected beds as early in the spring as the ground can 

 be prepared. A moist seed bed is very important. Fall 

 plowing will assist in securing the proper supply of 



