CELERY. 



135 



The Pcarsleys like a tolerably dry soil. For all the 

 genus it must be deep, and none of them thrive so well on 

 a strong clay. Thev like an open situation, free from the 

 influence of trees. The common parsley bears best a 

 confined and shady situation. They have recently been 

 placed in the genus Pctroselinum. 



A pium Gra vcoIe?is-—CELB R Y. 



Celery is a biennial plant, a native of Britain, Avhere 

 the wild variety, under the name of Smallage, is found 

 growing in low, marshy grounds, and by the sides of ditches, 

 and is a coarse, rank weed, with an unpleasant smell and 

 taste. It has also been found growing wild on the shores 

 of the Chesapeake. Xo plant has been more improved by 

 culture than this, which, under the gardener's hand, from 

 a worthless, disagreeable, and, as some say, poisonous 

 weed, has become, l^ith its crisp, blanched stalk, and deli- 

 cate aromatic flavor, a favorite vegetable with the epicure 

 There are several varieties of celery, of which we shall 

 notice but four, viz. : 



Red Solid. — The hardiest variety, for winter use, with- 

 stands frost, and is distinguished by its color from the 

 next. 



TVJiite Solid is more crisp and delicate in flavor than the 

 preceding, and a general favorite, on account of its color. 



Seymonr^s Red, and Seymcur^s ViHiite seem to be im- 

 provements on the old red and white solid, producing 

 larger and finer stalks, but these depend for size and excel- 

 lence very much upon the growers. Any one of the above 

 varieties will give satisfaction, with proper culture. 



An analysis of the ashes of celery has been made by 

 Eichardson, which we give below. One hundred pounds 

 of celery gave 1 jj, pounds of ash, containing the follow- 

 ing constituents : 



