83 FABM-GABDENING AND SEED-GEOWING. 



must be gradually drawn to them, and when they are 

 about twelve or fifteen inches high, a light furrow can be 

 thrown toward them on each side preparatory to " hand- 

 ling." This is done by firmly grasping the leaves in one 

 hand, and drawing the fine soil to them with the other, 

 pressing it against the plant, being careful always not to 

 allow the earth to come in contact with the heart. Fol- 

 low with the hoe, and draw the fine earth well around 

 the plants. This operation causes the plants to grow 

 upright and straight, which is of importance when they 

 come to be stored. When celery is grown early for using 

 in the fell, the same cultivation is required, and in addi- 

 tion "banking" must be performed. This follows the 

 earthing-up last described as soon as the leaves have 

 grown out and commenced spreading again. It must bo 

 done when the soil is moist enough to compact readily. 



With a spade, cut away the earth nearly perpendicu- 

 larly about twelve or fifteen inches from the plants, 

 throwing up the soil against the plants, catching it by 

 quickly turning the spade, and pressing it firmly. The 

 sides may thus be run up or " banked " at intervals, as 

 the leaves grow, working the soil about the leaves by the 

 hand, and gently pressing until the plants have grown to 

 full length, or arc sufficiently "blanched " below to be fit 

 to use. 



This is virtually overground trenching, and serves to 

 whiten or "blanch " the leaves. Trenching, though once 

 extensively practised, is now only used to a limited ex- 

 tent among market-gardeners, and to produce a small 

 quantity early. In growing for seed, the same cultivation 

 is necessary as for market, except that as the roots have 

 to be kept late the following spring, they may be planted 

 as late as the first of August, and not blanched, but 

 merely worked up enough to make the stalks upright. 



Preparing for Market. That which has been " banked 



