186 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING 



4 feet apart. The soil should be rich and black and in the 

 highest state of cultivation. Growth should be forced by 

 plenty of thorough cultivation and watering during dry 

 weather. Celery requires blanching after the growth is 

 nearly completed. This may be done in the open garden 

 by mounding up the soil to within a few inches of the tops 

 of the leaves. If the crop is to be stored the blanching may 

 take place during storage. The plants are lifted and reset in 

 deep boxes containing a little soil. These are set in a cold 

 place without light. The leaves are left exposed to the air 

 and the stems are so well shaded that they become well 

 blanched. A little watering may be necessary if stored by this 

 method. Giant Pascal, Golden Self Blanching and Evans 

 Triumph are popular varieties. 



Celery blight is the worst enemy of this crop. It may 

 be controlled by spraying before the disease obtains a "foot- 

 hold " with Bordeaux mixture. No poison is necessary in the 

 spray for blight. 



Corn, Sweeti^-rSchools having no summer session do not 

 have the. privilege of harvesting the early varieties of sweet 

 or sugar corn. Such late varieties as Stowell's Evergreen, 

 Mammoth Late, may be harvested after the school reopens 

 in the fall. 



Seed is planted in good garden soil in rows three to three 

 and a half feet apart. The plants may stand singly about one 

 foot apart or three together in hills three feet apart. The 

 soil should be well tilled and a fine dust mulch maintained 

 throughout the growing season. The worst enemy of sweet 

 corn is the ear worm. Methods of dusting the growing plants 

 with lime are being recommended. Dense clouds of lime dust 

 are produced about tue time the tassels and silks are formed. 

 This should be repeated for several weeks if washed off by 

 rains. Pall plowing of the ground also helps to destroy the 

 winter stage of the ear worm. For the early spring garden, 

 sweet corn may be planted as soon as danger of frost is over. 



