1883.] 



143 



CELERY, 



Celery requires a cool climate. South of 

 the fortieth parallel, the climate is too warm 

 for the best production of this toothsome 

 vegetable. As we approach the great lakes, 

 we find the temperature becoming more suit- 

 able for Celery, and by the time we reach 

 them we find it all the gal'deuer could desire. 



Celery needs a cold, heavy, deep, very 

 rich soil. The soil must be made of this 

 character artificially, if it is not so naturally, 

 to raise Celery profitably. The ground must 

 be well manured ; that is, a great plenty 

 of fertilizers must be used, as the plant is a 

 greedy feeder, and there is very little danger 

 of getting the land too rich. Any good ma- 

 nure is suitable for it ; but nothing equals 

 barn-yard manure well worked over. 



The old system of cultivation in trenches 

 has been abandoned by the most progressive 

 gardeners. It was troublesome and expen- 

 sive, and it has been found that fully as 

 good results could be attained by surface 

 Cultivation. But along the fortieth parallel, 

 and south of it, Celery cannot be bleached 

 in the open ground, as is done in colder 

 countries. The climate is too warm for 

 this, and when attempted, the stalks scald 

 and rot. 



Celery should be sown in the seed-bed 

 in the spring, as early as the ground can be 

 brought in condition for seeding. The ground 

 should be thoroughly pulverized, and the 

 seed sown in rows twelve inches apart, 

 either by hand or with a seed drill Most 

 gardeners prefer to use a drill, and undoubt- 

 edly the best results are attained by its use. 

 Groat care should be taken to use only first- 

 class seed. Celery is a delicate plant, slow 

 and weakly to start, puny and slow-growing. 

 From the seed-bed it must be transplanted 

 to the growing-led. This last bed should be 



BOSTON MARKET CELERY, 



prepared the same as for late Cabbage. Ma- 

 nure heavily and pulverize thoroughly. 



A common mistake is made in transplant- 

 ing too early, often June first. Except in the 

 northern part of our country, the weather 



will be too hot to bleach Celery grown so 

 early, at the proper time. It is the better 

 plan to transplant late, say from the middle 

 of July to the beginning of August. 



In setting out, be careful to press the dirt 

 firmly around the plants. The benefit of 



SANDRINGHAM CELERY. 



this is greatest in a dry season, but impor- 

 tant at all times. Do not plant too deep. 

 This is a common error. The soil should 

 not cover the crown of" the plant. Plant in 

 rows three feet apart, putting the plants six 

 inches apart in the row. After planting, 



j keep clean with plow or hoe till the first 

 or middle of September. Then it must be 

 " handled." 



The handling process is simple. Hold the 

 Celery compactly in one hand, and bring the 



I soil up around it with the other to hold it 

 upright aud close together. 



The next operation is bleaching. It can 

 be bleached in the open ground by banking 

 the earth up around it with a spade till it 



5 reaches the tops of the leaves. This should 

 Lie done about the first of October. But 

 bleaching in the open ground is hardly ad- 

 visable" in this climate. The weather in 

 October and November is too hot. During 

 these two months it is no uncommon thing 

 for the temperature of the air to reach 90° 

 Fahr., and at such a temperature Celery, 

 bleaching in open ground, will rot. It is a 

 better plan to handle it, and then leave it till 

 it is dug up for winter use. 



After handling late Celery, the earth can 

 be drawn up around it with a hoe to prevent 

 its freezing. It will stand considerable frost 

 if soil is around it. In this condition it can 

 be left in the ground till November loth, or 

 later. The later it is left in the ground the 

 longer it will keep ; therefore, Celery for 

 spring use should be left in the ground till 



! very late. 



This brings us to the process of storing 

 for winter use. Dig a trench as deep as the 

 Celery is high, and the narrower the better, 



say eight inches in width. Dig up the Celery, 

 keeping a little dirt fast to its roots, and 

 pack it in the trench in an upright position, 

 just as it grows. Leave it in this shape till 

 the latter part of December (the time de- 

 pending somewhat upon the severity of the 

 weather), when a light covering of straw 

 should be put upon it, and more covering 

 added later, as is required to keep it from 

 freezing. 



Some gardeners construct "Celery houses." 

 These may be built above ground, or dug 

 down a foot below the surface. The house 

 need not be an expensive affair. 



John M. Stahl. 



EARLY MARKET PEAS. 



The three great points in a Pea for the 

 market are earliness, dwarfish growth, and 

 productiveness. To determine the relative 

 value of the most reputed kinds, I planted, on 

 the 3d of March, side by side, one row each 

 of American Wonder, Premium Gem, and 

 Little^ Gem. All received exactly the same 

 treatment and cultivation. 



The last spring having been cold and back- 

 ward, the Peas did not come up till March 

 31st, and all were in bloom on the first of 

 May. On May 1 6th, the American Wonder 

 were eight inches high, and averaged four 

 edible pods to the vine ; while the Premium 

 Gem were fifteen inches high, and averaged 

 only two pods (and these not as large) to the 

 vine. None could be picked of the Little 

 Gems before the 20th, when they averaged 

 about one pod to the vine. On the same day, 

 we picked of the American Wonder an aver- 

 age of twenty pods to the vine. 



This test fully convinces me of the great 

 value of the American Wonder. But in ad- 

 dition to its earliness and productiveness, it 

 has the advantage that it can be planted in 

 rows one foot apart, and will do as well as 

 taller growing kinds at three times this dis 

 tance ; and also, that its entire crop can be 

 harvested in a few days, while sales are act- 

 ive and prices high. Thus the ground occu- 



pied by them becomes soon vacant, and can 

 be used for other crops. Taking all together. 

 I do not know of a more profitable market 

 Pea than the American Wonder. 



Thos. D. Baird. 



