CELERY. 183 



field will be ripe by the middle of August, when they can be 

 harvested; and then the celery can occupy all the land during 

 the cool weather of autumn, when it makes its most rapid 

 growth. 



Ficurc No 92. — CeleiT plant? which ha^^e been transplanted from the 

 seed box into moist soil that is rich in rotted manure. Thus treat- 

 ed, the celery forms a close, compact :'Oot system, to which the 

 soil adheres in lumps" when taken up. and on this account the 

 plants are very sure to start well when set out permanentlv in 

 the field. 



Handling. — As celery grows naturally it spreads on the sur- 

 face of the ground, like the carrot. The term handling refers to 

 the process by which the leaf stalks of each plant are drawn 

 together and some earth pressed firmly around them by the 

 hands, to hold them in an upright position. After this is done 

 more earth is drawn towards the plants with a hoe, until there 

 is enough to prevent their spreading open. All celery plants 

 should have this uprie:ht form before being stored, and it is all 



