132 Salad Crops 



The perfect seed-bed, however, is one that does not need a 

 cover, but which holds the moisture of itself. 



The early crop is commonly started under glass at the 

 North, transplanted to the open in six weeks to two 

 months. Plants for late crop are started in seed-bed in 

 the open. 



To secure stocky plants, they should be transplanted 

 once or twice in the seed-bed, or they may be thinned 

 until they finally stand at 2 or 3 inches apart. The labor 

 of transplanting is so great that growers of large areas 

 prefer to secure stocky plants by the thinning process and 

 then by shearing off the remaining plants when they be- 

 come too tall. The plants may be cut back a third their 

 growth by shears or sickle, or on large beds with a scythe 

 or mowing-machine. Transplanting is preferable when- 

 ever it can be managed. 



The plants should be 4 or 5 inches high and stocky and 

 dark green when they are planted in the field. Plants are 

 usually set 6 to 12 inches in the rows, and the distance 

 between the rows varies with the price of land and par- 

 ticularly with the method of blanching. 



Only well-bred seed shomld be sown. The plant tends 

 to run wild, but the seed from this depreciated stock should 

 not be employed for the growing of a crop. 



Blanching. 



Celery should be, crisp, tender and well blanched to be 

 used as salad. The blanching is accomplished by exclud- 

 ing the light. There are four common methods of blanch- 

 ing celery in vogue at present: by the use of boards or 

 paper; banking up with earth; close planting; blanching 



