208 GARDEN FARMING 



deep (see figure 80), and usually carries from four to six dozen 

 plants. Celery is sometimes shipped in carload lots, the plants 

 being packed tightly in an upright position on the floor of the car 

 and on one or two decks rigged up above the floor. Celery so han- 

 dled is not trimmed or bunched the whole plant with some soil 

 attached is best. 



Storing. In northern latitudes where the winters are long and 

 cold, celery is often stored in temporary sheds or pits made from 

 the lumber used for blanching the early crop, or in pits designed 

 and built for this purpose. If the storage is temporary for the 



FIG. 80. The half crate used largely in Florida 



season only the structure may be a surface shed with roof sloping 

 in one direction only, or an even-span, flat-roofed pit. An excava- 

 tion 15 or 1 8 inches deep, covered with either of the above types 

 of roof, may be made to receive the plants. An excavation requires 

 less external covering to protect the plants during severe weather ; 

 but on the other hand there is more expense in making the pit than 

 in covering the structure with litter or fodder. Permanent storage 

 houses are almost always built on the surface in a well-drained 

 place. The plan usually followed is that shown in figure 81, which 

 consists of a long, narrow building with no side walls, or with walls 

 not over 2 or 3 feet in height. The roof is made of plank and 



