192 



GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



ting out the celery, to see that the plant is set just to 

 the depth of the roots, if much deeper, the " heart" 

 might he too much covered up, which would impede the 

 growth. It is also important that the soil he well packed 

 to the root in planting, and if the operation can be done 

 the evening, and the plants copiously watered, no 



in 



farther attention will be required. 



If planted in July, nothing is to be done but keep the 

 crop clear of weeds until September ; by that time the 

 handling process is to be begun, which consists in draw- 

 ing the earth to each side of the celery, and pressing it 



Fig. 77." HANDLING " CELERY. 



tightly to it, so as to give the leaves an upward growth 

 preparatory to blanching for use. Supposing this hand- 

 ling process is done by the middle of September, by the 

 first week in October it is ready for " banking up," which 

 is done by digging the soil from between the rows and 

 laying or banking it up on each side of the row of celery; 

 after being so banked up in October, it will be ready for 

 use in three or four weeks if wanted at that time. But 

 if, as is usually the case, it is needed for winter use only, 

 and is to be put away in trenches, or in the cellar, as 

 will be hereafter described, all that it requires is the 

 operation of " handling." If the celery is to be left in 

 the open ground where it was grown, then a heavy bank 



