78 JOHNSON & STOKES 
watered until the plants are well started. In small opera- 
tions, it is well to transplant at least once. In large opera- 
tions, the plants are thinned out in the original rows, and 
carried from thence direct to the field. The upper leaves 
and the tips of the roots are cut off, and the plants are set 
firmly in the soil by means of a dibber. 
Dates and Distances. — July is a proper time for setting 
out celery; preferably after a rain or during dull weather. 
The rows may be from 3 to 5 feet apart, depending on the 
purpose of the planter, and the plants 5 or 6 inches apart in 
the rows. If the celery is to be stored for blanching, 3-feet 
rows may be used. If it is to be blanched in the field, the 
distance between the rows should be greater, so that more 
loose soil will be available for hilling. 
One ounce of celery seed will furnish 2.500 to 3,000 plants. 
A half pound is sufficient to furnish plants for an acre. 
Even on good ground celery should not be set out later 
than August 15th (in the latitude of Philadelphia), and pre- 
ferably earlier. 
The system of level planting is practiced by large growers 
everywhere. Trenching is still followed in some private gar- 
dens, but is too expensive for commercial operations. 
Varieties. — The so-called dwarf and half-dwarf varieties 
have pushed the larger kinds out of the market almost en- 
tirely, though seed of the giant sorts can still be obtained. 
The dwarf kinds are large enough for all purposes, however, 
and are in best favor everywhere. They are about 18 inches 
high, as compared to twice that height in the old-fashioned 
giant types. 
The favorites of late years for early celery are the self- 
blanching sorts, such as White Plume and Golden Self- 
Blanching, which are the result of the continued selection of 
individual plants or sports showing a tendency to blanch 
easily. For winter keeping, the Perle Le Grand, Winter 
