122 VEGETABLE GROWING PROJECTS 



South, advantage is taken of the months that afford the best 

 temperature conditions. While celery is matured at midsummer 

 in the North, our best product does not reach the market until 

 late in the fall. The cool nights of late September and October 

 are most favorable to the development of crisp, tender stalks. It 

 may be said, however, that with intelligent management the crop 

 may be grown with entire success in all parts of the North. 



The bulk of the enormous quantity of celery shipped to our 

 great city markets is grown on muck soils. These soils furnish 

 ideal conditions for the crop. They generally contain more than 

 50% of organic matter and this is the chief reason for their adap- 

 tation to celery. They are moist, loose, and fertile, and provide 

 the very best conditions for this shallow-rooted crop. 



But comparatively few students or club members can select 

 muck soils for their home project. If the cultivation of this crop 

 is to be attempted, some other soil must be chosen. We must 

 find or make a soil which is loose and friable in its physical prop- 

 erties, and which contains an abundant and constant supply of 

 moisture and available plant food. If we will keep in mind the 

 composition of muck soils (W-VG : 306), it will help us to choose 

 a good soil for celery, though muck may not be available. The 

 sandy loams are excellent. They should abound in humus or 

 decaying vegetable matter. However, any good soil which has 

 been used for gardening purposes should be suitable, with proper 

 treatment, for the, growing of celery. It is important, of course, 

 to give very careful attention to the preparation of the soil, espe- 

 cially if it is not naturally ideal for growing celery. 



1. What are the most suitable climatic conditions for growing 



celery? W-VG : 305. L:133. B : 3. 



2. What are the best soil conditions for this crop ? 



W-VG : 305-308. L:133. C : 195. B:4. 



