GERMAN PEAT MOSS IN CELERY CULTURE 
Translation from Die Gartenbauwirtschaft dated February 22,1934. 
’’What may be accomplished in celery culture by proper attention 
to the soil through the use of German peat moss is demonstrated by the 
results obtained in the first year of a practical experiment perform¬ 
ed at the experimental station of the Gardner’s Training School at 
Wolbeck,province of Westfalia,in Germany. 
/■ 
"Eight species of celery were planted on new soil,each species , 
occupying 5 rows of 80 plants to the row,making 400 plants of each 
species. About June first the whole surface was given a dressing of 
nitrogen salt(such as kainit). As soon as this top dressing had work¬ 
ed into the soil one half the surface was covered with peat moss as 
taken from the bales. During the following weeks when the ground was 
cultivated it was evident how loose and open the soil remained where 
peat moss had been used and how badly the soil had clogged on the area 
not covered with peat moss. And this difference was particularly no¬ 
ticeable in the better growth of the plants on the peat moss treated 
. soil. 
■ 
"In order to proceed uniformly the third row of each variety of 
celery was harvested during the last week of October. All the harvested 
celery was cleaned and dressed in the same manner and then the weights 
were taken. Therefore there were available for comparison 40 stalks 
of each variety which had been grown on peat moss covered soil and 
the same number of each variety grown on uncovered soil. The compara¬ 
tive weights follow. 
Variety of ready Grown under Peat Grown without Peat 
dressed celery knobs Moss covering Moss covering 
No. of No. of 
Pieces 
Lbs. 
Pieces 
Lbs* 
Magdeburger 
40 
121 
40 
66 
Schneeball 
40 
94.5 
40 
56 
Riesenkugel 
40 
79 
40 
5-4 
Alabaster 
40 
74 
40 
49^ 5 
Delikatess 
40 
69 
40 
43 ~ 
Imperator 
40 
58 
40 
35 
Kurzl.Apfel 
40 
55 
40 
57.5 
Prager Riesen 
40 
52 
Lbs* 602.5 
40 
38.5 
Lbs. $7$.5 
"It is natural that there is considerable variation in weight 
of the different varieties,but the important feature is that without 
• exception the crop grown under German peat moss was much heavier than 
that grown where the ground was not so treated.The total weight of the 
celery grown under the German peat moss exceeds the total weight of 
that grown without peat moss by exactly 59^.The facts gained by this 
experiment are substantiated by like experiences in various parts of 
Germany." 
The German peat moss in this case was used as a mulch instead 
of being mixed with the soil because a soil suitable for celery pro- 
