CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
3°9 
to water between the rows, and thus the foliage is kept 
dry. The soil should also be stirred occasionally, and 
the temperature kept sufficiently high to maintain a 
healthy, vigorous growth. Thinning is done if the plants 
stand too close together. 
When losses have previously occurred from damping- 
off fungi, the only safe course is to sterilize the soil with 
steam or formaldehyde. When the latter is used, a mix- 
ture of 2 pounds of formaldehyde with 25 gallons of water 
will give good results. Some growers also sterilize the 
seed by placing it for a few minutes in a solution made 
by adding 2 ounces of copper sulphate to ]/ 2 gallon of 
water; or formaline or corrosive sublimate may be used. 
The seed should be dried thoroughly after these treatments. 
When the rough leaves appear, the tiny seedlings are 
transplanted into fiats or beds. An inch and one-half 
each way is generally ample space, and some growers 
plant only 134 inches apart, but if to be held for a longer 
period than usual, plant 2 by 2 inches apart. Before 
planting, the flats should be about half filled with rotten 
manure and then completely filled with a good garden 
soil containing plenty of rotten manure and some sand 
if available. The boxes should be kept in the hotbed 
or 'he greenhouse until the plants are well established 
and are making a vigorous growth. Then if the weather 
is not too cold, they may be taken to the cold frame. This 
transfer is a critical operation, unless proper care is ex- 
ercise'' 1 in providing the right temperature. Young celery 
plants require about as much heat as tomato seedlings. 
A desirable precaution against fungous diseases is to 
spray with bordeaux mixture before taking to the cold 
frame as well as to the open ground. 
Seed for the late crop is usually sown in the open or 
in protected beds as early in the spring as the ground can 
be prepared. A moist seed bed is very important. Fall 
plowing will assist in securing the proper supply of 
