136 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH* 



Potassa, ..... 22.07 



Lime, . ... 13.11 



Magnesia, 5.82 



Oxide of manganese, . . 1.92 



Sulpliuric acid, .... 5.58 



Silicic acid, .... 3.85 



Phosphoric acid, . . . 11.58 



Phosphate of iron, . . . 2.66 



Chloride of potassium, . . 33.41 



From the above we see that the soil for fine celery must 

 be rich in potash, lime, phosphoric acid, and chloride of 

 potassium. The abundance of potash and chloride of 

 potassium explains the beneficial action of salt and ashes 

 upon this plant. But it will not do to depend upon special 

 manures alone, without the addition of ammoniacal fer- 

 tilizers. 



Culture. — Celery can be very successfully cultivated in 

 this climate. The ground for this plant must be quite 

 rich, Avithout the application of heating manure. It likes 

 a cool, moist, but not wet soil. There are several modes 

 of cultivation, of which we shall give but two. The best 

 mode is to sow in February, March, or April, in drills 

 seven or eight inches apart. As celery is a long while 

 vegetating in the open air, it is desirable to sow the early 

 crop under glass. Let the seed-bed be very rich, and 

 with a little salt well mixed with the soil. Water freely 

 in mild weather, when the soil appears too dry, taking off 

 the sash in warm days, and giving air every day at noon 

 until the seed comes up, which, if managed in this way, 

 will not be long in making its appearance. After the seed 

 is up, the glass should still be kept on nights, until mild 

 spring weather, when it may be removed altogether. 

 Celery is very much benefited, while in the seed-bed, by 

 shading it at mid-day, and the April sowing must be 

 shaded, or it will not come up. Frequent watering with 



