CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
315 
thoroughly decayed by the following spring, ready for 
the next crop, whatever it may be. This plan has met 
with great favor in the Cleveland district, especially with 
growers using the overhead system of irrigation. 
410. Irrigation. — Many of the finest celery plantations 
are irrigated. Production without artificial watering on 
soils other than muck is rather uncertain. Irrigation in- 
sures a crop on all soils provided other conditions are 
FIG. 76. IRRIGATED FIELD OF CELERY 
favorable. Figure 76 shows a system installed in central 
Pennsylvania. It is especially valuable in conjunction 
with mulching, as previously discussed (409). Nitrate 
of soda when applied broadcast may be dissolved at 
once by the spray, thus feeding the plants without wait- 
ing for rain to render it available. 
The distribution of water through open ditches is the 
usual method employed in the irrigation sections of the 
West. Subirrigation is used extensively in the celery 
fields at Sanford, Fla. 
41 1. Blanching. — The market in this country demands 
well-blanched celery, which is secured by requiring the 
