THE AMATEUR'S KITCHEN GARDEN. 
125 
plants have grown nine or ten inches in height; the small 
leaves immediately above the roots, and all embryo suckers 
are very carefully removed. After that the bed is completely 
saturated with rich liquid manure, but subsequently to this 
period no artificial watering should take place ; the beds are 
then covered with about four inches of mould from the ridges, 
which helps to keep the plants in an erect position, and 
acts like a mulching on the roots, thereby preventing in some 
measure the evaporation of moisture from the bed. Some 
three weeks before the early crop is required for use, the 
second earthing takes place, and is performed in the following 
manner by two operators : two boards some eight or nine 
inches in depth, and equal in length to the width of the 
bed, are placed edgeways between the rows, each board resting 
against the plants in either row, so as to form at once space 
for the reception of the mould and a protection to the leaves 
whilst the operation of earthing is being performed. When 
the required quantity of soil has been deposited, the boards 
are carefully withdrawn and placed between the next two rows, 
and so the work proceeds until all has been completed. 
When the soil is of a very wet, tenacious, or repugnant 
character, dry ashes, fine mould, or other material can readily 
be introduced next the plants, for which purpose double 
boards properly adjusted and fixed to each other form a ready 
medium by which to introduce the material thus. 
SECTION ACROSS THE BED, SHOWING THE MODE OP EARTHING CELERY 
WITH DOUBLE BOARDS. 
1, Manure-bed; 2, First earthing; 3, Celery Plants ; 4, Yacuum between 
the adjusted boards to receive fine blanching material ; 5, Common 
earth from the ridges. 
