36 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
As soon as tbe plants are about an inch in height, harden them 
off sufficiently to bear the temperature of a cold frame. Whilst 
this is being done, mix together equal parts of friable loam, and 
partly- decayed manure, and with this compost make up a bed of 
about six inches in thickness in a frame placed in a warm situation. 
Prick them out on this bed at a distance of three inches apart, and 
when the planting is completed, give them a liberal soaking of tepid 
water to settle the soil about the roots. It will be necessary to 
shade the plants in bright weather, and also to keep the frame rather 
close during the first few days. The only other attention they will 
require until strong enough for planting out, will be to supply them 
liberally with water and to keep the frame well ventilated. After 
they are well established, it will be difficult to admit too much 
air, for celery is by no means tender after it has been properly 
hardened off. 
The most general way of growing celery is in single rows in 
separate trenches. Where the space is ample for all the crops, 
nothing can be said against the system, and for early crops it is 
unquestionably the best that could be adopted. But in the case of 
small gardens, it is more advantageous to grow it in beds of six rows 
each, as by that means quite seventy per cent, more can be produced 
in a given space than when it is planted in single rows. 
In the formation of the beds, mark out a space six feet in width, 
and throw out the soil on each side to a depth of two feet ; then, in 
tbe bottom of the trench, put about nine inches of manure from an 
old hotbed, and cover with three inches of soil. They will then be 
in readiness for the reception of the plants ; but it is desirable to 
prepare the bed a short time beforehand. Some little diversity of 
opinion exists as to the proper distance at which the plants should 
be put apart, but by planting them nine inches apart, in rows 
fourteen inches from each other, good heads will be secured without 
an inch of the space being wasted. A dull, showery day should, if 
possible, be selected for putting the plants out, as they will then 
suffer very little indeed, provided they are well watered, and are not 
allowed to suffer for the want of moisture until they are established. 
It will not always be desirable to wait for showers, but when done in 
bright weather, a slight shade of mats, canvas, or branches of ever- 
green laid over them, will be highly beneficial, if supplemented 
with moderate sprinklings of water overhead every evening. It is 
always preferable to defer the systematic earthings-up until the 
plants have made considerable progress ; for when earthed-up early, 
the growth is checked considerably. 
During the progress of the crop an occasional dressing of well- 
pulverized soil spread between the plants will be of considerable 
assistance. In earthing the celery up, it is important not to put too 
much soil at one time, because of the check it gives to the plants, 
and also to do it in such a manner that the soil will not reach the 
hearts. First of all, tie a piece of old bast rather loosely round 
■each plant, j ust to keep the leafstalks close together, and take two 
light boards, five inches in width, and the same length as the bed. 
Supposing we commence with the two end rows, the boards are 
