VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 319 



destroy it. Hence experience has taught us, that the 

 sharp frosts that we usually have during the early part of 

 November, rarely hurt it, though often causing it to droop 

 flat on the ground, until thawed out by the sun. It must, 

 however, never be touched when in the frozen state, or it 

 is almost certain to decay. The ground in which it is 

 placed for winter use should be as dry as possible, or if 

 not dry, so arranged that no water will remain in the 

 trench. The trench should be dug as narrow as possible, 

 not more than ten or twelve inches wide, and of the depth 

 exactly of the height of the celery — that is, if the plant of 

 the celery be two feet in length, the depth of the drain or 

 trench should be two feet also. The celery is now placed 

 in the trench as near perpendicular as possible, so as to 

 fill it up entirely, its green tops being on a level with the 

 top of the trench. Figure 118 represents a section across 

 a trench filled with celery in the manner just described. 

 No earth whatever is put to the roots other than what 

 may adhere to them after being dug up. It being closely 

 packed together, there is moisture enough always at tin 1 

 bottom of the trench to keep this plant at the cool season 

 of the year from wilting. That which is put in trenches 

 about the 25th of October is usually ready to be taken up 

 for use about the first of December, that which is put in a 

 couple of weeks later, by the first of January, and the last 

 (which we try always to defer to 15th or 20th November) 

 may be used during the winter and until the first of April. 

 For the first lot, no covering is required, but that for use 

 during the winter months must be gradually covered up, 

 from the middle of December, on until the first of Jan- 

 uary, when it will require at least a foot of covering of 

 some light, dry material — hay, straw, or leaves — the lat- 

 ter perhaps the best. I have said the covering up should 

 be gradual. This is very important, for if the full weight 

 of covering is put on at once, it prevents the passing off 



