THE 156 
GARDEN YARD 
usually requires two or three bankings or 
“handlings,’’ as they are called, during the 
season. The first is given when the plant has 
spread so as to make a head about eighteen 
inches across. Then it is gathered in the hand 
and held, while earth is banked up around it 
about two-thirds of its height. In ten days or 
a fortnight this is done again, and in the very 
tall varieties once again. When this method 
is used the rows are from three and one-half to 
four feet apart. Of late years large growers 
use a ‘‘celery plow”’ for banking. 
When celery is to be blanched in storage it 
is usually “handled’’ once while in the field, 
so as to start the process of blanching. After- 
wards the plants are placed so close together 
in pits or sheds that the blanching goes on until 
the crop is ready for market. 
There is another method of blanching celery 
which is particularly successful in small areas. 
It consists of growing the plants so close to- 
gether that the light is excluded and the crop 
blanches as it grows. It is then grown as close 
as six or eight inches apart either way. This 
is called the ‘‘new celery culture,” and is success- 
ful where the hose can be freely used to supply 
the necessary moisture. 
