HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



33 



water again. Shelter them until they are rooted. 

 The plants will be eight to twelve inches high when 

 finally transplanted, and should at that time have all 

 side shoots carefully removed from the crown. The 

 beds should be so arranged that no water could stagnate 

 at the roots. 



Blanching, &c. : As soon as the plants make a 

 little growth apply water copiously when required, 

 and diluted liquid manure, soapsuds, &c, occasionally, 

 keeping the surface of the soil well stirred. When 

 the plants are nearly full grown remove any side 

 shoots, then gather the leaves of each plant evenly, 

 but not too tightly, together, and tie them up to prevent 

 the earth getting into the hearts while earthing up. 

 Draw the earth carefully to the plants on each side to 

 within six inches of the top ; this operation will have 

 to be repeated, and should only be done in dry weather. 

 The plants have greater strength and flavor if the 

 blanching is deferred until within a few weeks of the 

 heads being required for use. 



In Henderson's " Gardening for Profit" — the ex- 

 perience of a very successful market gardener in 

 America — the practice of planting in trenches for the 

 purpose of blanching is deprecated. Henderson recom- 

 mends that as the seedling plants advance in growth, 

 the tops be shorn off twice before the time of setting 

 out, so as to induce a stocky growth. He sets the 

 plants six inches apart, in rows which are three feet 

 apart, on the level ground, the roots being made firm 

 by pressure of the foot. In six or seven weeks after- 

 wards sufficient soil is drawn up to the plants to keep 

 the leaf stems upright, the earth being pressed round 

 each plant with the hand, The blanching process is 

 finished with the spade, banking up the earth taken 

 from between the rows against the plants as they in- 

 crease in height. He grows only dwarf celery, as, 

 unlike the taller varieties, the whole of the stem of 

 this kind is fit for use. 



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