Crops Grown for Their Leaves 



245 



Celery plants are set about 6 inches apart in rows. 

 Level culture, or setting the plants only slightly below 

 the general level of the soil, is considered better than 

 the older methods of trench culture. 



As the plants reach a good size they should be 

 blanched. This may be done with dirt as follows : 

 Draw the tops closely together with one hand, and with a 

 hoe in the other hand draw dirt up around the plants 

 until only the tops of the leaves protrude. With the 



FIGS. 136 and 137. Celery. At the left the seedlings are being transplanted 

 from flats to the garden. At the right the mature plants are being tied pre- 

 paratory to hilling up with earth. This method of blanching is practiced es- 

 pecially on sandy soil. 



