CELERY. 



75 



Trim tlie tops and roots of the plants, and then set them in 

 single rows along the middle of each trench, allowing four 

 or fiv^e inches distance from plant to plant When this 

 work is iinished, give the plants water in plenty, and occa- 

 sionally water them from time to time, if the weather he 

 dry, and likewise kt them be shaded, till they strike root, 

 and begin to grow. When they have grown to the height 

 of eight or ten inches, draw earth to each side of them, 

 breaking it fine. This should be done in dry weather, be- 

 ing careful not to bury the hearts. Repeat the earthing 

 once in ten days, till the plants are fit for use. Be careful, 

 however, not to draw up too much earth to the plants at 

 first, lest they be smothered, and leave the plants in a 

 little hoilovv^, that they may receive the full benefit of the 

 waterings, rain, &c." 



Taking the crop. — It is best to begin at one end of a row, 

 and dig clean down to the roots, whieh then loosen with a 

 spade, and they may be drawn up entire, without breaking 

 the stalks. 



To preserve this plant during the winter, on the ap- 

 proach of frost, take up a part of the crop, and lay it under 

 sand for winter use. Those left in the beds may be cover- 

 ed with litter, to be removed in mild weather. Cobbett 

 directs, to preserve celery in beds, as follows : — " Two 

 boards, a foot v/ide each^ their edges on one side laid upon 

 the earth of the ridge, formed into a roof over the point of 

 the ridge, the upper edge of one board going an ineh over 

 the upper edge of the other, and the boards fastened well 

 with pegs, will do the business completely ; for it is not the 

 frost, but the occasional tkaivsj that you have to fear^ and 

 the wet and rot that they produce.'^ 



To save seed, — Either leave some established plants in 

 the spring where growing, or in March, as soon as the frost 

 will permit, set the plants in the ground, full two feet asun- 

 der. 



Cultivation of celeriac. — The times of sowing are the 

 same as for the other sorts. In the beginning or middle of 

 June, they are transplanted into a flat bed in the open air, 

 at the distance of fifteen inches from each other, and not 

 in trenches, like other celery. They must be abundant- 

 ly watered as soon as they are set out, and the watering 

 must be repeated every other day, of, if the weather should 

 be warm, every day. As they increase in size, they will 

 require a greater quantity of water^ and they must be occa- 



