CELERY. 47 



more succulent growth on black soils, and good results may be 

 expected from any rich garden soil. 



In any case, most thorough pulverizing is essential. Celery 

 roots naturally grow near the surface, hence very deep plowing 

 is not necessary, except on uplands where we wish to encour- 

 age deeper growth of roots the better to withstand drouth, but 

 the young plants are small and delicate and the whole field 

 should be prepared as for a seed bed. 



FERTILIZERS. 



The fact that we grow celery for its leaves, indicates that the 

 plant food supplied should be rich in nitrogen. In most celery 

 growing districts stable manure is preferred if it is obtainable, 

 as the improved mechanical condition of the soil is of import- 

 ance. From thirty to sixty two-horse loads of well rotted stable 

 manure per acre are applied and at once turned under to a 

 depth of five or six inches. 



In case the manure is not well rotted or the supply is limited, 

 some practice making a trench six or eight inches deep where 

 the row is to stand, and, after putting in about three inches of 

 manure, filling with soil before setting the plants. 



If the stable manure is not obtainable, concentrated fertil- 

 izers may be used, if an occasional crop of clover is plowed 

 under to supply humus. Nitrate of soda is especially valuable. 

 Soils which have received large quantities of stable manure are 

 also benefitted by an occasional application of lime or gypsum. 



STARTING THE PLANTS. 



Celery seed is at best uncertain in its germinative power, and 

 unless the conditions are suitable the percentage of germina- 

 tion is usually very low. In general we may count on from 

 5,000 to 10,000 plants from an ounce of seed. 



For early celery the seed is sown in a mild hot bed or in flats 

 in the greenhouse about March 1 to 15. For the home garden, 

 if no hot bed is available, seed may be sown in rich, sandy soil in 

 a shallow box and placed in the kitchen window. 



In any case, cover the seed very lightly — not more than one- 

 sixteenth of an inch — and keep the soil moderately moist but 

 not wet. Many practice covering the surface with paper or 



