150 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



home, I would rather buy them of a skilful grower near by, than risk the uncer- 

 tainties of long transportation by express. 



Between July ist, perhaps even earlier for very early use, and August ist 

 (later at the south) the plants are set in rows three or four feet apart for dwarf, 

 four or five feet for tall varieties, and six inches apart in the row. A rich piece 

 of land, just cleared from any early garden crop, is usually in fit condition for 

 celery without manure, except perhaps a dressing of wood ashes and phosphates 

 scatteied over the rows and mixed thoroughly with the soil before setting plants. 

 If the soil is not rich enough, a deep furrow may be plowed out for each row, 

 half filled with fine compost and this well mixed with the soil in the bottom of 

 furrow. Coarse strawy stuff is not wanted. Re-fill with soil, leaving a slight 

 depression so as to make the surface of the piece somewhat undulating. Stretch 

 a garden line along the row and set the plants, after shortening tops and tap- 

 root and dipping roots in water, in the usual manner, always pressing the soil 

 firmly about the roots. Select for this work a time when the soil is fairly moist 

 — neither wet nor dry. In a dry time set after 4 p.m. and water plants freely 

 after setting. 



Now keep the path clean and the surface of the soil open and mellow close 

 up to the plants at all times. The first step toward " blanching " is the " hand- 

 ling." Plow light furrows towards the rows, or draw loose soil up to them with 

 the hoe. Gather all stalks of one plant together, hold them firmly with one 

 hand, and with the other pack enough soil around it to keep the plant perma- 

 nently in this upright position. More soil is then drawn up with the plow or 

 hoe. For plants to be stored for winter, this " handling " is sufficient ; but if 

 intended for fall use, the crop has to undergo the blanching process. With plow 

 and hoe bring the soil between the rows up to the plants, putting the finish 

 on with the spade until only a few inches of the tops are visible. This is done 

 from September to November, or from three to four weeks before the crop is 

 wanted for market or home consumption. 



The most popular way of storing for winter is by placing a row close together 

 in narrow trenches, the tops even with surface of ground, and by covering with 

 boards and litter to exclude light, rain and frost. Or the plants may be placed 

 upright upon a layer of moist soil in a dark cellar. Various other methods are 

 practiced in a small way Never handle while frozen. 



The best varieties : The coarseness of the tall kinds has nearly driven them 

 out of general cultivation. The dwarf sorts are good, but I know not one 

 superior to Golden Heart (or Golden Dwarf), with its beautiful rich yellow heart, 

 when blanched. White Plume is a so-called "self-blanching" sort, and, in 

 theory, needs only " handling" without blanching. To bring out its best flavor, 

 however, it requires the laborious " earthing up" or blanching process as much 

 as any other. — T. Greiner, in American Garden. 



