io6o 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



in frames, with a gentle heat, gradually hardening them off ready 

 to plant out in trenches when they are about 6in. high. The 

 trenches are usually i8in. deep, the same in width, and 4ft. apart; 

 at the bottom of the trench should be placed 6in. of good well- 

 rotted manure, covering this with 2in. of soil. In these the 

 Celery should be planted in two lines, the plants being about 

 I ft. apart and arranged alternately, thus giving them more room 

 for development than if directly opposite each other in the rows. 

 Showery or dull weather is best for planting out, and at no time 

 — from the period of sowing onwards — should Celery suffer for 

 want of water. If it does, the plants are liable to " bolt," or run to 

 seed, and thus prove worthless. When once well established in 

 the trenches, diluted liquid manure, kainit, or agricultural salt, 

 at the rate of 20Z. to the yard run of trench, will be beneficial, as 

 Celery is a gross feeder. 



A mistake is often made in earthing up too soon, and also by 

 carelessness in the operation. Before earthing all suckers should 

 be removed, and all the leaves of the plant tied up together with 

 a piece of matting or raffia ; then the earth should be placed care- 

 fully round the plants, but not in sufficient quantities to smother 

 the centre or growth part. Usually, about three such earthings 

 are sufficient, but the final earthing should be brought close up 

 to the points of the plants, as the object is to throw all the 

 water from the plants and prevent rotting. Many successful 

 exhibitors tie up the plants in layers of stout brown paper, 

 instead of earthing ; the Celery is thus beautifully clean and 

 well blanched. 



A leaf-mining insect, the grub of the Celery Fly {Teph?'itis 

 onopordifiis), attacks the foliage of both Celery and Parsnips. 

 Its attack is denoted by a sickly appearance of the leaves 

 and the presence of yellowish patches. The best remedy is to 

 crush the grubs between the finger and thumb before they can 

 escape from the leaves and pupate. There are two or three 

 broods in a season. In very bad cases the leaves had better be 

 removed and burned. This is also known as Parsnip Fly. 



Very destructive also is the Celery Stem Fly [Piophila apii). 

 The larva of this insect bores into the stem above the ea-rthing- 

 line, and works towards the centre as well as to the base. Its 

 galleries are frequently disclosed when the vegetable is being 

 prepared for table. The fly is very minute (^in. in wing-expanse) 

 and inconspicuous. The larva is creamy-white and shiny, with 

 two dark spiracles at the hinder extremity. There are several 

 broods, and the larval and pupal states may be passed in either 

 the Celery stems or the earth. The pests are difficult to deal 

 with ; but their attacks may be minimised by syringing or 

 spraying Anti-Pest on the stems to render them disagreeable 

 to any larvje hatched out. Where Celery is seen to be attacked 

 the plants should be lifted and burned, and after the crop has 



