CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 



315 



thoroughly decayed by the following spring, ready for 

 the next crop, whatever it may be. This plan has met 

 with great favor in the Cleveland district, especially with 

 growers using the overhead system of irrigation. 



410. Irrigation. Many of the finest celery plantations 

 are irrigated. Production without artificial watering on 

 soils other than muck is rather uncertain. Irrigation in- 

 sures a crop on all soils provided other conditions are 





FIG. 76. IRRIGATED FIELD OF CELERY 



favorable. Figure 76 shows a system installed in central 

 Pennsylvania. It is especially valuable in conjunction 

 with mulching, as previously discussed (409). Nitrate 

 of soda when applied broadcast may be dissolved at 

 once by the spray, thus feeding the plants without wait- 

 ing for rain to render it available. 



The distribution of water through open ditches is the 

 usual method employed in the irrigation sections of the 

 West. Subirrigation is used extensively in the celery 

 fields at Sanford, Fla. 



411. Blanching. The market in this country demands 

 well-blanched celery, which is secured by requiring the 



