SALAD CROP PROJECTS 119 



temperate region. The wild form, from which our cultivated 

 celery has arisen, is a native of Europe. 



In common celery the portions of the plant which are used com- 

 mercially are the enlarged leaf stalks, botanically known as the 

 petioles. In celeriac, or turnip-rooted celery, the root is enlarged 

 and fleshy and constitutes the edible portion of the plant. Celery 

 and celeriac are offshoots of the same species. Ordinarily celery 

 grown from seeds forms a clump of leaves, with the thick stalks 

 the first season, and if left in the ground sends up seed stalks the 

 second season. A plant thus producing seed the second season is 

 known as a biennial. The flowers are white, small, and in small 

 groups called umbels. The seeds are small, it being estimated 

 that an ounce contains between 60,000 and 70,000 seeds. The 

 ]ea\es are compound, and the leaflets divided and coarsely toothed. 

 The white or blanched condition of the leaf stalks is secured by 

 keeping the light away from them. The green color, which is such 

 a predominant feature of plants, can develop only in the light. 

 Potato sprouts growing in a dark cellar, or grasses growing under 

 a board, are without green color. In order that growth may 

 continue the green color must be developed somewhere. There- 

 fore in celery growing the leaf stalks are kept from the light, but 

 the leaf blades are left in the light. 



1. To what family does celery belong f 



2. How does celery differ from celeriac? 



3. Why is celery said to be a biennial? 



4. Under what conditions does the blanching of celery take place? 



Project Outline 



1. ^Yhy grow celery? 



2. Selecting location. 



