CELERY 
practice to thin them and use the plants 
removed for the first setting. This gives 
the remaining plants a better chance. 
A small furrow is made and the irri- 
gating water is turned into it. This set- 
tles the soil and puts it in good condition 
for setting the plants. After the water 
has seeped out of the ditch it is the plan 
of most growers to run a small stream 
into the furrow again. The surface of 
the water this second time leaves a line 
along the edge of the furrow and the 
plants are set along this line, thus mak- 
ing them all at the same level. In this 
way none of the young plants are covered 
when irrigated, and yet all are close to 
the water. Where self-blanching is grown, 
a row is set on each side of the furrow, 
making two rows about 12 inches apart. 
Where Giant Pascal is raised, plants are 
set only on one side of the furrow, and 
that on the south side if the furrows run 
east and west, so that the plants may 
escape the reflection of the sun’s rays 
from the water. The furrows are made 
about four feet apart. The plants are 
set from six to eight inches apart in the 
row. With single rows four feet apart, 
plants eight inches apart in the row, 
16,710 plants would be required per acre; 
with plants six inches apart in the row, 
21,780 plants would be used per acre. 
When self-blanching is grown in double 
rows, just double this number of plants 
would be used. It is well to have an 
abundance of plants so that later on any 
vacant places may be filled. 
The beds are watered very thoroughly 
before removing the plants for setting, 
and then the plants may be pulled out 
singly by the roots if it is desired to thin 
the beds somewhat. The plants are ar- 
ranged in bunches which can be held 
conveniently in the left hand. They are 
put in a box over which is thrown a wet 
sack to protect from the sun while being 
carried to the field. In setting, some 
simply lay a plant on the first finger of 
the right hand and stick it into the mud 
on the side of the furrow; others, where 
the soil is heavier, make a hole in the 
soil with a pointed dibble held in the 
right hand and place a plant in the hole 
761 
with the left, the dibble then being stuck 
into the soil beside the plant to close the 
hole. It is a good plan to wet the roots 
with puddled mud just before starting to 
set a handful. There is quite a knack 
and a whole lot of hard work in setting, 
but it can be learned much more quickly 
by watching a good workman and by do- 
ing it oneself than by reading how to 
do it. 
Cultivation 
Since celery is transplanted to fields 
which are clean of weeds, the plants have 
the start of the weeds. However, it is 
generally necessary to give one or two 
hand weedings. A wheel hoe is used 
once or twice, and four or more cultiva- 
tions are given with the horse and a 
harrow-tooth cultivator in the wide 
spaces. Some make a practice of culti- 
vating once a week during the growing 
season. Those who blanch with dirt often 
use a five-tooth cultivator the last time 
or two, so setting the teeth as to throw 
some dirt toward the rows. 
Irrigation 
Concerning irrigation, each grower has 
his own ideas as the result of his expe- 
rience under his particular conditions. 
Some do not irrigate more than two or 
three times during the season. Others 
irrigate nearly every week, commencing 
at the time of setting. On sandy, well- 
drained soils it is necessary to irrigate 
very often. One must use his own judg- 
ment, always remembering that celery 
grows in swamps in its natural condition 
and, therefore, cannot stand drought. 
During the growing season the water 
is run in the furrows which were made 
at the time of setting the plants. If 
double rows are used, as soon as the crop 
has a good start this furrow will be com- 
pletely hid by the tops of the plants, but 
the water will still follow the ditches in 
good shape if they have been kept clean 
of weeds. Since the ditch at this time 
is shaded by the plants, the soil dries 
out less rapidly and does not bake so 
badly. 
Blanching 
Blanching consists in so excluding the 
light that tender stalks free from color- 
