246 Gardening 



approach of freezing temperatures, more soil may be 

 banked up and straw or leaves packed about and over 

 the tops. Then more soil may be piled up, and a board, 

 or two boards arranged as an inverted trough, placed 

 over the straw. This protects from cold and keeps the 

 plants dry. In sections with moderate winters the crop 

 can be thus left for use as desired throughout the winter ; 

 but in the more northern of the planting zones the crop 

 should be stored in cool cellars, pens, or cold frames (see 

 page 346). 



Blanching may also be accomplished by wrapping a 

 collar of paper about each plant and tying it firmly in 

 place. Newspaper may be used, but stiffer paper that 

 keeps its position after rains is better. For blanching 

 early crops and autumn crops that are to be stored before 

 cold weather the use of paper bands is advised. Early 

 crops often rot from heating if blanching with soil is 

 attempted. Paper collars or bleachers, with special 

 metal " handlers " that make easy the work of arranging 

 them, may be bought of seed firms that deal in garden 

 supplies. The use of 3 -inch Xi 2-inch drain tile for 

 blanching gives excellent results, and is to be recom- 

 mended for blanching the home supply of early celery. 



The method of " new celery culture " recently used 

 consists of growing plants so crowded that they are self- 

 blanched through mutual shading. The plants are set 

 about 6 inches apart in rows that are only 8 inches apart. 

 The soil is excessively manured ; as much as i ton of 

 well-rotted manure to the square rod is often used, and 

 the plot is kept well watered continually. When thus 

 " forced in the field," the crop is often tender and wel) 



