194 



GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



apply, of course, to the latitude of New York ; if 

 further south, do the work later ; if further north, 

 earlier. If one has no suitable cellar, the celery can be 

 very readily preserved in the manner followed by market 

 gardeners. 



After it has been " handled" or straightened up, as 

 before described, what is intended for use by Christmas, 

 should be dug up by about October 25th ; that to be 

 used in January and February, by November 10th, and 

 that for March use, by November 20th, which latter date 

 is as late as it can be risked here ; although it will stand 

 quite a sharp frost, the weather by the end of November is 



Fig. 79. STORING CELERY IN TRENCHES FOR WINTER. 



often severe enough to kill it, or so freeze it in the ground 

 that it cannot be dug up. The ground in which it is 

 to be preserved for winter use, must be as dry as possi- 

 ble, and so arranged that no water can remain in the 

 trench. Dig a trench as narrow as possible, (it should not 

 be wider than ten inches), and of a depth equal to the 

 hight of the celery, that is, if the plant of celery be 

 eighteen inches high, the trench should be dug eighteen 

 inches deep. The celery is then packed exactly in the 

 manner described for storing in boxes to be placed in the 

 cellar ; that is, stand it as near upright as possible, and 

 pack as closely together as can be done without bruising 



