60 CELERY CULTURE 



home supply of celery, it will be desirable to apply 

 a mulch of some kind along the rows. As soon as 

 the plants are in position, and before any water is 

 applied, cover the ground for a distance of 8 or 10 

 inches on either side with any finely-divided mate- 

 rial that will shade the top of the soil, hold the mois- 

 ture, and prevent a crust being formed after water- 

 ing. Half-rotted manure is preferable for this pur- 

 pose, as in addition to acting as a mulch it has 

 considerable fertilizing value. Among materials 

 that may be used as a mulch are pine needles, 

 leaves, cornstalks run through the cutter, and clip- 

 pings from the lawn, none of which, however, are 

 as good as manure. Have the material to be used 

 as a mulch near at hand, and as the plants are set 

 cover the soil around them to a depth of 2 inches, 

 bringing the mulch close to the base of the plant, 

 but being careful to allow none to get into the 

 heart. 



