Caulifloroer  ; Celery. 
81 
must  be  placed  over  them  at  all  times  on  the  approach  of 
frost,  and  means  taken  to  keep  frost  from  them  as  the 
weather  becomes  more  severe.  Slugs  should  be  diligently 
sought  after,  and  decay  from  excessive  moisture  during 
Decembei',  January,  and  February  must  be  kept  in  check  by 
means  of  careful  ventilation  and  the  judicious  use  of  lime. 
The  earliest  i)lants  may  be  planted  out  under  hand-glasses 
at  the  end  of  March  and  early  in  April,  and  they  will  be  ready 
to  cut  at  the  end  of  May  or  in  June,  according  to  the  season 
and  aspect. 
Persons  who  have  a greenhouse  may  have  nice  (Jauliflowers 
only  a few  days  later,  and  save  themselves  a large  amount  of 
trouble  and  anxiety,  by  sowing  seed  (Early  Snowball)  in  boxes 
in  January,  ])rieking  out  into  other  boxes  or  frames  in  due 
course,  and  ])lanting  under  hand-lights  or  on  warm  borders. 
Veitch’s  Early  Forcing  is  a good  variety  for  the  purpose.  I 
have  cut  “heads”  in  four  months  after  sowing  the  seed  in 
February. 
Autumn  Giant  is  a very  fine  variety,  requiring  a long- 
period  of  growth — four  to  five  months  from  the  time  of  plant- 
ing out.  The  seed  should  be  sown  in  a frame,  if  possible,  in 
February,  and  the  seedlings  pricked  out  and  encouraged  to 
grow  freely.  Plant  them  out  at  the  end  of  May,  or  earlier  if 
they  can  be  protected  from  frost,  and  they  will  be  ready  for 
cutting  in  September. 
There  are  other  varieties  which  are  ready  for  use  during 
July  and  August,  hut,  no  matter  what  variety  may  be  grown. 
Cauliflowers  must  be  kept  growing  luxuriantly  if  good  results 
are  desired. 
Celery. — The  (Jelery  plant  grows  abundantly  and  luxuriantly 
in  its  wild  state  by  the  side  of  the  canal  between  Droitwich  and 
Salwai’])e,  in  the  Isle  of  Thanet,  and  other  marshy  spots  of 
England  near  the  sea.  It  has  been  greatly  changed  by  cul- 
tivation, and  although  the  })lant  requires  plenty  of  moisture, 
yet  it  is  apt  to  rot  in  winter  in  soils  saturated  with  water.  A 
light  soil  is  better  for  Celery  than  a stiff  soil,  and  the  plant 
grows  better  when  its  leaf-stalks  are  surrounded  with  light 
porous  soil  than  when  it  is  pressed  against  by  that  which  is 
heavy  and  compact. 
The  earliest  Celery  is  usually  grown  in  single  or  double 
rows,  six  or  eight  feet  apart,  as  at  Sale  and  Stretford  near 
Mancliester  ; but  equally  good  Celery  is  grown  later  in  the 
season  around  Tamworth,  in  bi-oad  beds  containing  twelve  rows 
VOL.  65.  G 
