SOWING THE SEED 



81 



fallow must be the means of bringing it into good work- 

 ing condition. 



Seed Sowing. — I like to make three sowings — in February, 

 March and April. The March sowing will be the principal, 

 but where very early celery is required a pan had better be 

 sown in February. A light, rich soil made rather firm 

 is best for this. Generally about three times too many 

 plants come up in a given space, crowding each other in 

 their infancy, so sow thinly, cover up with about one 

 quarter inch of fine soil, and then water gently. I place 

 slates over the top of the seed boxes or pans, in order to 

 prevent evaporation as the seeds germinate slowly. I 

 give a brisk heat of 70 to 75 deg. till the seeds 

 begin to germinate, when I remove the slates and put 

 on glass to admit more light. A high temperature will 

 be fatal to the future career, as nothing short of good 

 sturdy plants should be aimed at. The slate and glass 

 are not necessary if seed pans are placed in the shade. 

 When the plants have made a pair of rough leaves they 

 should be pricked out into boxes, seed pans, or even into 

 frames ; if the latter, heat must be afforded for a time if 

 for early work. The soil into which they are pricked 

 should be rich with plenty of well-rotted dung, and if a 

 sprinkling of bonemeal be added so much the better. 

 The soil into which celery is pricked out should be rich 

 and firm, especially that used in the final transplanting 

 before removing to the trenches ; if some well-rotted 

 manure be placed under the young plants and made firm, 

 then about three inches of good soil also made firm, and 

 the plants put about three inches apart, these can be 

 taken 'up with good balls of roots, which poor loose 

 soil will never allow. This prevents the plants from 

 flagging, and, when finally planted, they will start with- 

 out a check, which is a most important matter. Many 

 plants will not in the least be injured by a check when 

 planted, but this is not so in the case of celery. We 



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