KITCHEN-GARDEN VEGETABLES. 
cr desirable, blanching being far more easily 
effected by means of paper bandages, supple- 
mented by canvas wrappering in the case of 
any Celery to be kept till November. Com- 
mence to bandage up rather early, taking care, 
however, not to unduly confine the leaves or 
hearts at the outset. Allow at least one month 
to elapse between the time of the last heavy 
bandaging with brown paper and the date of 
the first show, and the leaves must be partially 
enclosed, otherwise too much light will pene- 
trate to the stalks. Continue to keep the roots 
well supplied with water and liquid manure 
after bandaging the plants, or premature bolt- 
ing may defeat the efforts of the cultivator. 
Grove White is one of the best for early blanch- 
ing, and one of the tall-growing pink- or red- 
stemmed varieties — Standard Bearer for in- 
stance—should be chosen for successional sup- 
plies. 
Protection.—Although Celery is hardy in its 
natural state, yet under artificial treatment it is 
apt to perish in winter. At that season its 
oldest leaves, like those of other herbaceous 
plants, naturally begin to decay, and the central 
portion, though young, is unfitted for resisting 
frost, in consequence of its having been blanched. 
The alternate action of frost and wet soon 
causes it to rot, and frequently wet alone has 
this effect. Melting snow and hail, descending 
to the centre, check the growth, and cause it to 
rot. 
In the usual way the stalks are kept upright, 
so that water from snow melting on the top 
readily passes down amongst them; but by 
bending the tops towards one side at the last 
earthing up, or even commencing to do so at 
the previous earthing, the rain or snow water 
would not have a direct downward course. 
Tough dry turf, or some substance that would 
not wash down into the hearts of the plants, 
might be laid on the upper side of the bent 
Celery tops. Various other means of protection 
could easily be devised. Thatched hurdles 
afford good protection, as also do boards nailed 
together A-shaped fashion, and placed over the 
rows. Some growers use leaves which have 
been previously heated, and remain in flakes of 
some 6 inches in thickness, and which resist 
alike the action of frost and moisture. This 
covering is removed in favourable weather, and 
the plants exposed to air, as they should be in 
all cases. Dry fern, long litter, or any other 
substance that will form a light covering and 
resist frost, may likewise be used. Some plants 
may also be taken up and buried in sand or 
433 
light soil, under shelter, leaving, however, the 
tops of the leaves uncovered. 
To save Seeds. —Select some of the finest plants, 
mark them in order to give them but very little 
earthing up, and protect them in severe weather. 
Early in spring they should be carefully taken 
up and planted in a sunny situation. They 
should be well-watered, and the flower-stems 
supported by stakes. The seeds ripen in 
autumn, and keep good for three or four years; 
but the newest seeds are the best. 
Celery is lable to canker in some soils, par- 
ticularly in such as contain much oxide of iron. 
A parasitic fungus also grows upon the leaves. 
Insects, &c.—See chapter on this subject. 
Leaf Enemies—Celery Fly. Stem Borers— 
Celery-stem Fly. 
Carter’s Crimson (Hood’s Dwarf Red).—Dwarf, of com- 
pact habit; hearts very solid, blanching for about 12 inches; 
the stalks thick, fleshy, and of fine quality. 
Dixon's Mammoth White-—Of compact robust habit, 
about 2 feet high; leaflets broad; hearts very large, 
blanching about 12 inches, somewhat soft, but of excel- 
lent flavour; stands the winter well. 
Dwarf Solid White (Incomparable Sandringham) (fig. 
1184).—Dwarf and compact; leaflets small, pale-green; 
hearts solid, pure white, blanching about 10 inches; the 
Fig. 1184.—Celery—Dwarf Solid White. 
stalks broad, thick, fleshy, crisp, and of fine quality. One 
of the best, as it blanches readily, is early, and stands the 
winter well. 
Golden Yellow.—A form of Dwarf Solid White, remark- 
able for the yellow colour of its leaves and stalks, which 
do not require to be buried to blanch, although they are 
tenderer and sweeter when earthed up in the usual way. 
Ivery’s Nonsuch (London Market Red).—Strong, vigor- 
ous, about 3 feet high, and with an average girth of 12 
inches; hearts very solid, blanching for about 12 inches: 
the stalks broad, thick, and crisp, with a nutty flavour. 
Stands the winter well. 
Major Clarke’s Red.—Very compact, erect, and even, 
