VEGETABLES CELERY. 177 



The ground is then thoroughly plowed and harrowed. 

 No additional manure is used, as enough remains in 

 the ground from the heavy coat it has received in the 

 spring, to carry through the crop of Celery. 



After the ground has been nicely prepared, lines are 

 struck out on the level surface three feet apart, and the 

 plants set six inches apart in the rows. If the weather 

 is dry at the time of planting, great care should be taken 

 that the roots are properly " firmed." Our custom is to 

 turn back on the row, and press by the side of each plant 



Fig. 33. CELERY AFTER "HANDLING." 



gently with the foot. This compacts the soil and par- 

 tially excludes the air from the root until new rootlets 

 are formed, which will usually be in forty-eight hours, 

 after which all danger is over. This practice of pressing 

 the soil closely around the roots is essential in planting 

 of all kinds, and millions of plants are annually destroyed 

 by its omission. After the planting of the Celery is com- 

 pleted, nothing further is to be done for six or seven 

 weeks, except running through between the rows with 

 the cultivator or hoe, and freeing the plants of weeds 

 until they get strong enough to crowd them down. This 

 will bring us to about the middle of August, by which 



