CELERY 203 



such as Golden Self-Blanching and White Plume, do not stand 

 earthing as well as the green sorts. In some sections the self- 

 blanching sorts are banked, but the general practice is to blanch 

 without earthing. One objection to boards is that new lumber, 

 particularly pine, imparts a resinous taste to the stalks. Old lum- 

 ber is not apt to do this, however. One advantage in the use of 

 boards is that the celery can be held longer in the field after it 

 is in marketable condition than when banked with earth. 



Blanching with paper. There are two methods of using paper 

 for blanching. One that can be used only on a comparatively small 

 scale consists in wrapping the individual plants in sheets of strong 

 manila wrapping paper and tying them snugly with cord, as shown 

 in figure 76. This is slow, tedious work and is practiced only by 



FIG. 76. Celery plants wrapped with manila paper, for blanching 



the market gardeners who grow small areas for local use. The 

 other method is to use one of the better grades of building paper 

 that is opaque and waterproof, which comes in rolls 3 feet wide. 

 In order to suit the paper to the work the rolls must be sawed into 

 12-inch sections, giving rolls 12 inches wide. These strips are 

 placed on edge close to the plants, the same as the boards, and 

 held in place either by light stakes made of laths or by wire loops. 

 A good quality of paper carefully handled will last for more than 

 one crop, and as it can be rolled and packed away when not in use, 

 it has decided advantages over lumber. It is lighter to handle, not 

 much more difficult to adjust, and costs less. Manufacturers of 

 composition roofing are now offering 1 2-inch rolls of material 

 especially prepared for blanching celery, which are tougher and 

 more durable than the building papers. 



