100 



CELERY CULTURE 



period. Celery that is banked with earth will in- 

 variably -possess a better flavor than that blanched 

 in any other manner. Where the plants are set in 

 single rows the soil can often be partially thrown 

 up by means of a plow, or a celery hiller. (Fig. 40.) 

 There are several makes of celery hiller, but they 

 all work upon the principle of a diagonally set sur- 



FIG. 4O BLANCHING CELERY WITH EARTH. PLANET JR. CELERY 

 HILLER IN OPERATION 



face to throw up the soil. Before the plow or bank- 

 ing machine is used a small amount of soil must be 

 placed around the base of the plants to hold them in 

 an upright and compact position. This process is 

 generally termed "handling," and is greatly facil- 

 itated by having the soil in the middles loosened 

 with a harrow tooth cultivator in order that loose 

 earth will be readily available. 



The plants may also be held together for banking 

 by tying them with paper twine. Instead of tying 



