Ccttfoer 4, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
S05 
T N numerous instances the rows of Celery are strong and well 
grown, only to be much damaged and disfigured by slugs. 
Where only just the heart is used it does not so much matter, but 
/even these are sometimes reached by slugs, and none of us like to 
see much mutilated Celery lifted. If the whole or only a portion 
of the crop is marketed there is still greater necessity for protecting 
ifche outer stalks in some way, as all who buy Celery like to have 
plenty for their money, the value of each “ stick ’’ being decided 
according to the bulk of blanched outer stalks rather than the 
quality of the heart. 
After trying various systems of growing Celery, more especially 
:as regards the size of trenches and the number of rows that can be 
grown in each, I have long since arrived at the conclusion that 
•single rows are the most profitable in the end, as it is possible to 
grow nearly as many plants in that way as can be done when 
“double lines are placed in a single trench ; not only can the finest 
Celery be grown in single rows, but these can also be more easily 
•earthed up and better protected from slugs than can two or more 
rows in a trench. According to my experience heavy or moderately 
heavy lands can with very little trouble be made to produce Celery 
•of the best quality, but unfortunately such soils are invariably the 
most infested with slugs. It is therefore in the process of earthing 
up that the greatest judgment must be exercised and the greatest 
pains taken, or what would have been very fine Celery will be com¬ 
pletely marred quite early in the season. 
In the first place it is a mistake to be in too great a hurry to 
•complete the earthing, this giving the slugs good shelter and plenty 
•of time to spoil the stalks. When the plants are well advanced and 
.growing strongly, enough soil should be broken down and well 
worked round the plants, this acting as a mulch and also serving 
to prevent the outer leaves assuming a horizontal position. Two 
•other earthings ought to be sufficient. If the second is given before 
the hearts are far advanced the mass of earth wedged against the 
stalks will effectually check their proper development. Better, 
therefore, to underdo rather than overdo it. The final earthing up 
must be done before severe frosts are anticipated, and only the very 
latest ought to be left till earR in November. The ridges enclosing 
the Celery should be finished neatly, so as to throw off as much 
water as possible, and if only the best portion,of the leaves is un¬ 
buried a moderately severe frost will do but little harm. 
Having briefly alluded to the-manner of and time for earthing, 
at yet remains to be told how the Celery is to be kept clean, that 
is. to say, .but slightly disfigured by slugs. Where only a small 
number of plants are grown the simplest plan for preserving and 
•effectually blanching the stalks of these is; either to enclose each 
plant in a 5-inch drain pipe, or to wrap them round with two or 
more folds of strong brown paper. The former must be set over 
the plants fairly early, or when the leaves can be passed through 
without being damaged, but the brown paper may yet be used. At 
•one time paper collars, invented by Mr. J. Simpson of Wortley 
Hall Gardens, could be purchased, and these answered very well, 
but would have been better if somewhat larger in size. These 
fastened with hooks and eyes, but the strips of brown paper used 
as good* substitutes for the collars require to be fastened with 
strips of raffia. They must not be too tightly bound round the 
stalks, or the hearts will be unduly confined, and both paper or 
No. 432. —Yol. XVII., Third Series. 
pipe-covered plants should be earthed up for the winter, the first 
soil being worked in early, and a final earthing given after the 
plants are fully grown. Few need to be told that Celery requires 
plenty of rich food and moisture at the roots, and deferring 
earthing up admits of liquid manure or water being applied quite 
late in the season. In very many instances the Celery is much too 
dry at the roots when the soil is placed round the stalks, and 
unless the autumn is exceptionally wet it is a long time before the 
rains benefit the crop. It is dryness at the roots that more often 
than not is the cause of premature bolting or running to seed, few 
being aware or taking the trouble to ascertain that the soil under¬ 
neath could possibly be so dry with so much earth on the top of 
it. Even in such a wet season as that just passed through we 
found it necessary to give the rows of Celery a good soaking of 
water prior to commencing earthing up, and more had to be given 
at the second time. If this was necessary in our case it must have 
been most imperative where the subsoil is of a gravelly nature, 
ours being solid clay. 
Those who devote much ground to - Celery culture cannot afford 
to coddle it, and must perforce adopt some rough and ready methods 
of checking the slugs. In some instances a liberal application of 
soot, or soot and lime about the plants and among the soil, as it is 
worked round the Celery, helps to make the latter distasteful to 
the slugs and the quarters too hot for them. Soot especially is a 
good fertiliser, and though those who prepare the Celery for the 
table grumble at having it so black, it ought yet to be extensively 
used. On light soils a sprinkling of salt is also a preventive of 
slugs and acts as a fertiliser, but it must not come into contact 
with the leaves. The surest way of keeping Celery clean is to 
quite surround the stalks with fine burnt clayey soil or sifted ashes 
from coal fires. Both, in moderation, greatly improve heavy land, 
and the process of surrounding the Celery with them is not so 
tedious as might at first sight appear. It need not be used at the 
first earthing up, and enough may be worked in at the second time 
to quite answer the purpose for which it is added. The first pro¬ 
ceeding should be to well gather the outer stalks together so as to 
effectually shut out any soil or rubbish from the hearts, the ties 
being made rather high up, or where they can be loosened again. 
A long board of any width may next be set on each side of and 
nearly close to the rows of Celery, and kept in position, if need be, 
with stakes fixed inside. Against the boards bank up the soil, and 
then fill in the spice kept by the boards with either the burnt soil 
or ashes. The boards may then be drawn up, refixed, and a second 
layer of soil and other material added as before, or this may be 
delayed, if the Celery is backward, for another ten days. All may 
be finally banked over with soil. Thus treated, the Celery is less 
liable to decay during a cold wet winter, and invariably turns out 
clean and good. 
I ought perhaps to add it is of the greatest importance that the 
heart be always well protected with the outer stalks while the 
process of moulding up is going on, and this can be done either by 
lightly tying them up with raffia or strips of matting, which must 
be taken off again, or one person may hold the stalks together 
while others are ch ipping down and working in the soil.— 
A Vegetable Grower. 
LIFTING AND REPLANTING OLD VINES. 
I incline to think the present is the best time of the whole 
year to carry out the above operation, as if lifted now it gives the 
Vines ample time to recover before shedding their leaves, and 
with careful management they may be made to produce a satis¬ 
factory crop of well coloured even bunches of Grapes the following 
year. I consider it a sheer waste of time heavily top-dressing 
yearly when once Vines show signs of distress and the shanking of 
the berries takes place. These annual top-dressings are undoubtedly 
highly beneficial to them when in a flourishing state, as it both 
No. 208S. —Vol. LXXIX.. Old Series. 
