314 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
Transplanting can be done to better advantage in 
humid or cloudy weather. The plants should be lifted 
with care. If the seed beds or flats are watered 24 hours 
in advance of planting, the plants can be removed with 
more soil clinging to the roots than if unwatered. Some 
growers give little attention to this matter and often 
shake most of the soil from the roots. In this case the 
roots are usually puddled before setting, or the ground 
may be watered before and after planting. Dibbers, 
trowels, or the forefingers are used in making the holes 
to receive the plants, which should never be set deeper 
than they stood in flats or beds. Pressing the soil firmly 
to the roots completes the operation of transplanting. 
408. Cultivation. — The ground should be cultivated as 
soon as possible after transplanting, precaution being 
taken not to throw any soil on the hearts of the plants. 
As celery is a shallow-rooted crop, tillage should never 
be deep; the ground should be stirred and hoed often 
enough to control weeds and to conserve soil moisture. 
409. Mulching. — Pine needles, straw and other mate- 
rials are used for mulching celery, but horse manure is 
very much the best mulch. It is not only an excellent 
conserver of moisture, but furnishes plant food as well. 
Some of the most successful intensive growers use the 
following plan for White Plume and Golden Self-Blanch- 
ing and for summer, fall and early winter sales: The 
plants are set at the usual times, at distances of 4 or 5 
inches by 24 inches. As soon as possible after trans- 
planting, the ground is mulched with 40 to 50 tons of 
fresh horse manure to the acre. The manure should not 
be placed against the plants. If applied at the rate sug- 
gested, the mulch will be 4 or 5 inches deep at the cen- 
ters of the row spaces, sloping gradually to the rows 
themselves. No tillage is given if the mulch is applied 
immediately after planting, otherwise the ground should 
be kept well stirred until mulched. The manure will be 
