1<30 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[[ February 23, 1893. 
rather give one thorough good soaking that will last a week than five or 
eix surface driblings that only coax the roots to the surface to be 
shrivelled by the sun. After watering, as soon as the top is moderately 
dry, run the hoe through, so that the surface dries, as this layer of dry 
soil prevents evaporation, and also prevents many valuable gases leaving 
the soil. 
About the middle of July a little soil should be chopped from the 
sides of the trench to cover any roots that may be pushing to the top. A 
dressing of soot should also be given, as this prevents slugs eating the 
plants, and it also improves the colour, and gives a dark green appearance 
to the foliage. By the end of August the plants can be earthed up. Be 
careful to keep the soil out of the hearts. A week before earthing up 
go over the plants, and all the small leaves and any suckers there may 
be taken off, as this gives time for the fractures to dry and heat. Before 
earthing up I generally tie each plant with a piece of matting to keep 
the soil out of the heart, taking it off after earthing ; in six weeks the 
•Celery may be used. 
For the main crop the last week in April is soon enough to sow the 
seed. If a large number of plants is wanted make up a very slight hot¬ 
bed, on which place an old frame in which to sow the seed. Sow the 
seed very thinly, and when the seedlings are up ventilate freely in all 
favourable weather. When the plants are large enough prick them out on 
a bed of prepared soil. This bed should be in a sunny spot, and ought to 
be made up of two parts loam, one part decayed manure, one part leaf soil 
with plenty of road grit, thoroughly mixing it. Tread it moderately firm, 
water the plants and shade for a day or two, keep them well supplied 
with water when established, and they will lift from this bed with good 
balls of soil attached to the roots. 
The best position for the plants is a piece of ground from which a 
crop of Peas or Beans has been taken. The only preparation the ground 
will require is to draw wide drills from 3 to 4 inches deep at 4 feet 
apart in which to place the plants, and keep them supplied with water 
till October. Frequently stir the soil between the rows, sprinkling 
soot or nitrate of soda over the ground before hoeing. Do not earth 
the plants up till severe frost compels it for protection. After earthing, 
if it is very frosty, protect with some dry litter or bracken, and if some 
boards nailed together can be placed over this it will be made more 
secure. 
Perhaps it may not be generally known why it is that Celery always 
does so well after Peas or Beans, especially if the ground has been 
trenched, Seience has found out that soil that has not been broken up 
and exposed to the air contains more free acids—ferric and nitric acid, 
which are not taken up by plants until they have been converted into 
aitrogen. The roots of all leguminous plants have the peculiarity of 
doing this, leaving the ground richer in nitrogen than when they were 
sown ; this the Celery is able to appropriate. Another advantage of 
Celery following early Peas is that they get an open situation, so that 
they get all the advantage of light and air. Being in shallow trenches 
the roots are influenced more by the sun and air. The ground also being 
firm the growth is more solid and better able to stand the frost of 
winter. 
I have grown Celery for a late supply upon ground from which crops 
of Peas and Beans have been taken without any further preparation 
beyond hoeing to loosen the surface for planting. The ground was 
bastard trenched and plenty of manure put in for the Peas and Beans. 
The Peas were sown 10 feet apart with three rows of Broad Beans 
2^ feet asunder. After these were removed rows of Celery were put 
out between where the former rows had been at a distance of 5 feet 
apart. The plants were kept well watered, and after they were well 
established supplies of house sewage were given. No attempt was made 
to earth up till nearly the end of October, when it was done at one 
operation. Out of 300 plants not one bolted or was pithy, and with 
the exception of a leaf here and there practically free from maggot. 
With the precaution of covering with dry litter on the approach of 
severe frost I was able to keep up a supply till the end of March. 
For an early supply I used to set apart a plot of ground, the only 
part of the garden from which I could get a good crop of Carrots. 
One half was occupied by Carrots and the other half Celery. After the 
Carrots were taken off the ground was manured with soil from an earth 
■closet, stirring the ground deeply, and left rough all the winter. About 
the middle of May the ground was chopped over, and wide drills, 4 to 
5 inches deep, were drawn out 4 feet apart. After the Celery was 
planted other drills were drawn between and Lettuce seed sown. The 
Lettuce plants were used before the Celery required all the soil, the 
Celery coming off in time for the ground to be prepared for Carrots. 
No manure was added except seme soot and wood ashes. Before the 
soil was chopped down, and being near the sewage tank, the Celery 
was always given a good supply, but I was careful to have the ground 
moist before giving the liquid, as I once spoilt a row by giving strong 
sewage when dry. 
I was first induced to think over firm ground for Celery when I went 
into a nursery in Lincolnshire, where vegetable growing for market was 
largely practised. A piece of ground was heavily manured and ploughed. 
In the spring it was well pulverised and sown with Eadishes ; as soon 
as they were large enough they were sent to market. When the ground 
was eleared two furrows were ploughed out where it was intended a row 
of Celery was to go ; the bottom was then dug over, and the Celery 
planted. The plants had been prepared by making up a large heap of 
manure in a sheltered corner, and covering it with soil. At the end of 
March the seed was sown very thinly, and a thick covering of dry 
Asparagus tops placed on the bed. This was taken off as soon as it was 
seen the plants were coming through the soil. When the seedlings were 
large enough they were pricked out on a piece of prepared ground and 
ultimately planted out, and no one could wish for better Celery. 
Since that time, both from my own observation and from what I 
have read of the experience of others, I am still of opinion that firm 
ground, provided it is fertile, is the best. The growth may not be so 
rapid as when it is grown in a trench of manure, but it is more solid. 
Another advantage of firm ground is that it does not dry so quickly as 
loose, light ground, and does not require so much labour in applying 
water. 
I have said nothing about Celery for exhibition. Perhaps at some 
future time I may the pleasure of saying something, but I suppose a 
paper is not complete without saying something about varieties. Of 
white varieties for some years I grew nothing but Sandringham, but 
whether from want of care in selection it appears to me to have 
deteriorated. Carter’s Solid Ivory White is good, but it takes a long 
time to blanch properly. Barr’s Covent Garden White is the one I 
prefer for earliest ; it is quite as good a grower as Carter’s, but the stems 
are very much whiter, and the heart comes well up and is quickly 
blanched. Barr’s Champion White I have found good for a main crop. 
Of red varieties Major Clarke’s I have always found reliable. Barr's 
Co vent Garden Dwarf Bed for putting out after Peas, is also good. 
Standard Bearer is useful, but I have not found it so hardy as Major 
Clarke’s or Leicester Eed. 
In this paper I have given my convictions from practice and observa¬ 
tions, but to show that I am not alone in my theory as to firm soil for 
Celery I may mention that a writer in the Journal of Horticulture for 
August 18th, page 145, gave it as his opinion that Celery could be sown 
where it was to remain. That Celery will bear planting out into trenches 
very small I have seen several instances, but in all cases they have had 
great attention to watering and shading. 
In conclusion, let me say that if quick growth is wanted nothing is 
better than a slight sprinkling of nitrate of soda. iClay's fertiliser is also 
a good stimulant, being careful to water it well in. 
PEIMULAS AT FOREST HILL. 
A CALL at Messrs. Carter & Co.’s nursery in Houston Koad, Perry 
Hill, which is within comfortable walking distance of Forest Hill station 
on the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, would be well 
rewarded, for their large collection of Primulas is, or was a week ago, 
in remarkably fine condition. Passers-by possibly survey with mixed 
feelings the large house of Cactaceous plants which is seen from the 
roadway according as their tastes may incline them to regard favourably 
or otherwise these curiosities of the vegetable kingdom, but there can 
hardly be two opinions among those who pass in and inspect the 
Primula houses, brilliant with the collective beauty of some thousands 
of plants. Persons nourishing strong diversities of taste would surely 
find common ground for admiration there. Seldom in the many years 
during which the Holborn firm have been engaged on the popular winter 
florists’ flower have they had so fine a display as this season, and the 
interest of the collection is greatly strengthened by the inclusion of 
several novelties of exceptional beauty and promise. It is true that 
fertilisation is in full swing, and this means that many flowers come off 
daily; but the quantity is so enormous that now, and for some little 
time, there will be a rich display of blooms to delight the visitor. 
One of the first impressions to follow the preliminary feeling of 
admiration will be that of speculation as to the serious object of the 
magnificent show provided. It cannot be for ornament alone, and as 
for seed, there would seem to be plants enough to provide sufficient for 
the whole country. It is not easy to appreciate the fact that every seed 
which can be raised is wanted, and for retail orders alone, not only, how¬ 
ever, is such the case, but although many pounds are raised every season 
the collection has to be annually enlarged in order to keep pace with the 
growing demand. This might well “ give pause.” To retail Parsnips by 
the pound is nothing, but when it is borne in mind what the average 
size of a packet of Primula seed is, and the immense number into which 
a pound of seed is split up, it is difficult to realise that that quantity goes 
but a little way in supplying customers. The fact is Messrs. Carter and 
Co. not only have a stupendous general connection in seeds, but a 
special additional one in Primulas, to which they have given more than 
ordinary attention and prominence. 
Primula growers are now a numerous body, and will doubtless be 
more interested in remarks on the individual varieties than in further 
generalities. The time has not long passed since cultivators were 
satisfied to grow the red and white varieties alone, or even to rely upon 
a packet of mixed seed for their stock of plants ; but named varieties 
have been introduced so far in advance of the old rubra and alba that 
the former order has changed, and Primula lovers extend their 
collections so as to embrace as many as possible of the improved forms. 
The Holborn specialists have been active in catering for them, and the 
excellence of their strains is now abundantly manifest. 
Reference may first of all be made to the singles, which embrace a 
considerable diversity of colours. The first to be noted in the first house 
entered was the original Holborn Blue, whieh excited so much.comment 
when first introduced. It is now well known and widely appreciated ; 
but it has a neighbour which many visitors will consider eclipses it, and 
that is the variety known as Holborn Porcelain. This is a really splendid 
Primula. In quality of flower there are few to equal it. The blooms 
are 2 and 2 j inches across, beautifully fimbriated and of great substance. 
They are altogether larger and finer than the old variety, and the colour 
