io3 
The Cultivation of Vegetables 
trench before breaking up the soil to “earth up”. This will 
help to keep slugs and insects from getting into the plants 
and destroying them. A second “earthing up” may be done 
when the plants have made considerable growth, and then 
a final one, partly for protection, before the severe weather 
sets in. At this last “ earthing up ” the soil should be 
rounded away from the plants and made smooth with the 
back of the spade, so that the water may run off instead 
of down into the stems, thus causing decay. The soil 
should be moderately moist when “ earthing up ” — neither 
too wet nor too dry. When severe frosts set in, the 
Celery should be protected by placing rough litter or dried 
bracken over the ridges. 
When Celery is wanted for exhibition, special methods 
of growing it are adopted. It may be raised in practically 
the same way as for the main crop, only it should be sown 
a fortnight or three weeks earlier, and a special soil of 
6 parts chopped turf, i part leaf mould, and i part of 
well-decayed horse manure should be placed, 6 in. deep, 
on the top of the manure in the trench. The trench 
should be of the same size as that for the main crop, but 
a single row only should be planted, and the plants should 
be 1 2 in. apart. When the plants have made 4 to 6 in. 
of growth, stout brown-paper collars should be wrapped 
round the base — not too high, or the centre of the plant 
will be destroyed — for blanching purposes, instead of 
“ earthing up ”. As growth proceeds, new and deeper 
collars should be put on, each collar going two or three 
times round the plant, to ensure a good blanch. When 
the papers are removed occasionally, search must be made 
to see that no slugs or insects get about the plants to 
