CELERY. 319 



inches thick of well-rotted manure, which, as usual, 

 must be well mixed and incorporated with the soil before 

 the Celery is set out. If stable manure is not convenient, 

 bone dust, guano, or other concentrated fertilizer may 

 be sown on the rows about as thick as sand or sawdust is 

 strewn on a floor, and well chopped in and mixed with 

 the coil. Whether stable manure or a concentrated 

 fertilizer be used, it should be spread over and mixed to 

 at least twelve inches in width and six inches in depth. 

 When the ground is thus prepared, we stretch a line to 

 the distance required, and beat it slightly with a spade, 

 so that it leaves a mark to show where to place the 

 plants. These are set out at distances of six inches 

 between the plants, and usually four feet between the 

 rows. Great care must be taken in putting out the 

 Celery, to see that the plant is set just to the depth of 

 the roots. If much deeper, the "heart" might be too 

 much covered up, which would impede the growth. It 

 is also important that the soil be well packed to the root 

 in planting ; and if the operation can be done in the 

 evening, and the plants copiously watered, no farther 

 watering will usually be required. 



If planted in July, nothing is to be done but keep the 

 crop clear of weeds until September. By that time the 

 handling process is to be begun, which consists in draw- 

 ing the earth to each side of the Celery, and pressing it 

 tightly to it, so as to give the leaves an upward growth 

 preparatory to blanching for use. Supposing this hand- 

 ling process is done by the middle of September, by the 

 first week in October it is ready for " banking up," which 

 is done by digging the soil from between the rows and 

 laying or banking it up on each side of the row of Celery. 

 After being so banked up in October, it will be ready for 

 use in three or four weeks, if wanted at that time. But 

 if, as is usually the case, it is needed for winter use only, 

 and is to be put away in trenches or in the cellar, as 



