116 CELEEY. 



ready for "handling," which should be done with 

 care. 



This operation is simple, but requires some prac- 

 tice before much headway can be made. The oper- 

 ator gets down on his knees, gathers all the leaves 

 of each stalk up, and, while holding them in posi- 

 tion with one hand, presses the loosened earth against 

 the stalk with the other ; then vice-versd, going in 

 this way the length of the row, and each row in 

 turn. When this is finished, the earth is thrown 

 toward the Celery from both sides with a one-hoi-se 

 plough. A man usually follows with a hand-hoe and 

 draws the earth still closer to the Celery, where the 

 plough missed or failed to do the work well. In the 

 garden, the hoe is made use of instead of the plough. 

 As fast as the Celery grows, the earth is drawn up 

 by men with hoes, until the time for banking, in 

 order to make the hearts white ; or " bleaching," as 

 it is usually termed by gardeners. 



This part of the work is more tedious, and, to do 

 it well, calls for a person who knows how to handle 

 the spade. A man stands on either side of the same 

 row, and, commencing about ten or twelve inches 

 from the Celery, raises a straight bank of earth, 

 covering all the Celery except three or foiir inches 

 of the ends of the longest leaves. Each man en- 

 deavors to build his side firmly, and straight up and 

 down. It is usiially a matter of considerable pride 

 among practical gardeners, their ability to bank Cel- 

 ery well. 



This walling up the Celery begins aboi;t the mid- 

 dle of September, and, when it is grown on a large 



