July.] 



THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



195 



Gledstone, at Netherwillon, Northumberland, and he declares 

 it to be the result of an experience of thirty years. 



Select a piece of ground in an open situation, if it be level, the 

 better. If the celery be grown in single trenches, they ought 

 to be five feet apart ; if six feet trenches and planted across, 

 leave five feet between. But to proceed with the single trench : 

 this must be thrown out three feet wide, and three and a half 

 deep, place a stake in the centre at each end of the trench, 

 make the bottom level, beat in clay regularly to the thickness 

 of six inches ; then lay two courses of stones or bricks length- 

 ways of the trench, and parallel to each other, leaving a space 

 of one foot six inches between. Each course ought to be 

 eight or nine inches thick, and laid in lime-mortar ; the clay 

 should be well pointed to the stones, to make all water tight, 

 tliis being the only utility the clay and stones are intended for. 



The trenches are now to be filled to the height of the stones, 

 with a composition of sti'ong clay loam, common earth, and 

 rotten dung, then pour in as much water as the trench will 

 hold, making the whole a sort of puddle. It will be advisable 

 to lay a slate or flat stone down the centre of each trench, to 

 prevent the clay from being injured by any unskilful hand that 

 may be employed in taking up the celery, or renewing the 

 composition in the trenches. Level down the soil to and over 

 the stones, filling the trench in the centre with the above com- 

 position to two feet from the bottom ; this places the plants 

 fifteen inches above the puddle, and forms a trench one foot 

 below the surface, which is an advantage in earthing up the 

 plants. 



Where early celery is required, it is advisable to sow a little 

 seed in the first or second week in February. Where there is 

 the convenience of a vinery, sow it either in boxes or pots, 

 giving the plants plenty of air as soon as they vegetate ; plants 

 grown in heat are more apt to run to seed than when sown in 

 the open ground. As soon as the plants are fit to transplant, 

 provide a slight hot-bed, cover the inside of the frame with 

 flat stones or slates, laying their edges close to each other, 

 then cover the stones or slates with strong fresh loam and rotten 

 dung to the depth of four inches. As soon as the soil is warm, 

 fill the frame with the youn-.': ])lant> three inches apart each 



2 c 



