390 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



compact heads. The failure of this crop is very frequently attributed to 

 the use of poor seed, and there is no question but that good seed is a most 

 important factor in the growing of a satisfactory crop of cauliflower. 



The early crop is started under glass and the plants are handled in the 

 same way as cabbage. It is important, however, not to check the growth 

 of the plants at any time, as this may cause "bolting" or "buttoning." 



Seed for the late crop should be sown a trifle later than for cabbage. 

 It is important to sow thinly so that every plant will have plenty of space 

 for its full development. 



Cauliflower should be planted in even richer soil than cabbage. It is 

 especially desirable to use an abundance of rotten manure. Planting- 

 distances should be about the same as for early cabbage. When the heads 

 are an inch or two in diameter, the leaves should be bent over them, or 

 perhaps tied together over the heads, in order to protect the latter from 

 rain and sunshine. The markets demand pure white heads. 



Celery. — Celery occupies a most important place in American gardens, 

 though it does not receive as much attention as it should. When the 

 methods of culture are well understood, it may be grown with great ease, 

 and no vegetable is more appreciated when it appears on the farmer's 

 table. An immense quantity of celery which is grown in muck soils finds 

 its way to our great markets. The crop is also well adapted to rich, sandy 

 loams, but any soil which is properly fertilized will grow an excellent crop 

 of celery. The two great essentials are a liberal supply of plant food and 

 an abundance of moisture. Stable manure is universally regarded as the 

 best fertilizer. It should be applied in a decayed condition and worked 

 well into the soil as a top dressing rather than plowed under. Commercial 

 fertilizers are also extensively used for this crop. As a rule the fertilizers 

 employed by commercial growers contain four to six per cent of nitrogen 

 and from eight to ten per cent of each of the mineral elements. A ton to the 

 acre, mixed directly with the soil after plowing, is a very common applica- 

 tion, and some growers use double this amount. 



There are two general classes of celery: First, the so-called self- 

 blanching, best represented by Golden Self-Blanching, which is more 

 generally grown in this country than any other sort; and, second, the green 

 varieties, such as Winter King, Winter Queen and Giant Pascal. The dwarf 

 self-blanching varieties are most popular among commercial growers 

 because they are easily blanched. Green winter varieties are better in 

 quality than the self-blanching and are grown more largely for winter use. 



Too much care cannot be exercised in purchasing celery seed. The 

 grower should make certain that the stock is good, because many of the 

 failures of celery growers are attributable to poor seed. The best seed of 

 the self-blanching varieties is grown in France. 



For the early crop, seed should be sown in hotbeds or greenhouses 

 after the first of March. It is usually a mistake to sow earlier than this 

 date, because the plants are likely to become crowded in the beds before 



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