The  Home  Acre 
z The  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
1049 
Blanching  Celery  Without  Earth 
Cun  celery  of  good  quality  bo  grown 
by  blanching  with  boards  or  by  wrapping 
pieces  of  red  building  paper  around  each 
stalk?  I  hare  heard  that  celery  blanched 
by  those  methods  is  tough  and  stringy 
and  more  liable  to  rot.  Can  good  celery 
he  grown  by  planting  close  so  as  to  let 
the  shade  of  the  leaves  blanch  the  stalks? 
If  so,  what  would  be  the  proper  space 
each  way?  I  have  the  Golden  Self 
Blanching,  it.  N. 
Ohio. 
During  hot  weatlier  celery  is  best 
when  blanched  with  paper.  Boards  or 
soil  will  cause  it  to  decay  or  rust  badly. 
Sometimes  a  strip  of  paper  is  put  along 
each  side  of  the  rows  and  is  held  in 
place  by  means  of  wires  bent  into  long 
narrow  staples  or  “U”s  which  stick  into 
the  soil,  astride  of  both  papers.  Another 
p’  polar  way  to  blanch  celery  in  hot 
weather  is  to  have  the  individual  papers 
for  each  plant;  these  are  cylindrical  in 
form,  about.  10  inches  high  and  3^6  inches 
in  diameter.  The  leaves  of  the  plant  are 
held  together  with  the  hand  and  the 
cylindrical  form  of  paper  is  dropped 
down  around  the  plant. 
In  early  Fall  the  most  economical 
method  of  blanching  is  by  means  of 
boards  10  to  12  inches  wider,  one  inch 
thick  and  from  10  to  10  feet  long.  These 
arc  also  held  in  place  by  means  of  the 
long  U-shaped  wires  mentioned  above. 
These  boards  do  excellent  work  until  sev¬ 
ere  freezing  comes.  Many  gardeners  pre¬ 
fer  to  blanch  every  other  row  with  the 
boards.  Then  these  blanched  rows  are 
sent  to  the  markets  and  this  gives  plenty 
of  space  so  that  the.  remaining  rows  may 
he  nicely  blanched  with  soil.  Everyone 
realizes  that  the  finest  celery  can  be  had 
only  when  it  is  blanched  with  soil.  When 
paper  is  used  during  warm  weather  the 
celery  blanches  in  a  very  few  days  and 
then  quickly  deteriorates, 
If  the  soil  is  very  rich  and  irrigation 
is  available,  the  stalks  may  he  planted 
a  foot  apart  each  way  so  that  they  will 
be  blanched  as  they  grow.  However, 
this  method  has  the  serious  drawback  in 
that  it  is  quite  impossible  to  spray  the 
entire  plant  thoroughly  in  case  of 
blight.  B.  w.  D. 
Praise  for  the  Everbearers 
In  a  recent  issue  I  note  that  the  edi¬ 
tor  is  "from  Missouri”  on  the  everbear¬ 
ing  strawberry  as  a  commercial  proposi¬ 
tion  and  calls  for  experiences.  In  May, 
1915,  we  put  out  1.000  plants  of  Superb 
on  square  rods  of  ground,  rows  three 
foot  apart  and  plants  about  15  inches 
apart  in  row.  We  kept  blossoms  off  till 
July  20,  commenced  marketing  berries 
August  20,  finished  October  20.  We  sold 
1 00  quarts  at  a  uniform  price  of  25 
cents  per  quart,  wholesale,  besides  what 
we  used.  The  returns  figure  at  the  rate 
of  $800  per  acre. 
They  grew  on  rich  clay  loam  without 
an  ounce  of  commercial  fertilizer.  Ber¬ 
ries  were  large  and  beautiful,  and  of 
finer  flavor  than  any  of  the  Spring  hear¬ 
ers.  Cost  of  cultivation  about  one  and 
one-half  that  of  a  potato  crop.  This 
Spring  we  had  $05  worth  of  plants  at 
$1.25  per  hundred.  We  have  put  out 
about  an  acre  this  season.  Last  year’s 
plants  are  now  full  of  blossoms  for  the 
Spring  crop.  We  have  experimented  for 
several  years  with  a  number  of  varieties 
and  discarded  nil  hut  Superb.  Letting 
the  plants  bear  a  full  Spring  crop  does 
not  seem  to  affect  the  Fall  crop  if  blos¬ 
soms  are  cut  from  latter  part  of  June  to 
latter  part  of  July.  titus  farm. 
New  Hampshire. 
A  concrete  culvert  is  more  satisfactory  than  one  that 
rots,  rusts,  clo^s,  or  wears  out.  And  it  is  cheaper  be¬ 
cause  it  requires  no  repairs  and  lasts  for  ages.  Our  free 
service  sheets  tell  how  to  build  this  and  other  farm 
improvements  easily  and  at  little  expense.  All  you  need 
is  clean  sand,  well  graded  crushed  stone  or  gravel  and 
ALPHA  can  akways  be  depended  upon  to  give  first  class 
results  in  any  kind  of  concrete  work.  Its  great  binding 
power  and  tensile  strength  are  insured  by  a  system  of 
hourly  tests  by  chemists  at  all  ALPHA  plants.  Every 
pound  is  pure,  live  and  active.  Every  bag  is  guaranteed 
invariably  to  meet  standard  specifications.  A  quarter 
of  a  century  of  cement-making  experience  is  back  of 
this  guarantee. 
Free  Building  Helps 
Whatever  youare  planning  to  build,  you  will  find  valuable  infor¬ 
mation  in  our  books,  folders  and  service  sheets.  Check  below 
the  kind  of  construction  in  which  you  are  interested,  write  your 
name  and  address  in  the  margin,  tear  out  and  mail  today. 
□  Garage  [Silo  □  Steps 
□  Driveway  Li  Poultry  House  □  Porch 
□  Culvert  1  Corn  Crib  □  Meat  House 
□  Walls  '  Storage  Cellar  Li  Milk  House 
U  Foundation  □  Dam  _  G  Ice  House 
□  Barn  □  Green  House  □  Manure  Pit 
Department  R 
ALPHA  PORTLAND  CEMENT  CO. 
General  Offices :  Easton,  Pa. 
S«Im  Off  loos:  Now  York,  Poston,  Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh'  Baltimore.  g,rfU,n^ 
the  guar, 
“Best  and  Cheapest 
way  to  doctor  sour 
Soils”  jftkdfea 
|  Get  bigger  crops  by  using  Carbon 
ij  Limestone.  Its  very  high  percent- 
|  &8C  of  carbonate  of  I  i  me  releases 
ij[  the  potash  now  inthesoilbut  un- 
|  available.  Pulverized  fineenough 
f  for  bestresults.  In  bulkorin  sacks, 
I  Write  today  for  BOOKLET  and  PRICES. 
The  C  arbon  Limestone  Company . 
81S  Stambaugh  Bldg.  Youngstown,  Ohio  A 
Post-hole  Digger  for  Transplanting 
Desiring  to  transplant  some  Dima 
beans  when  conditions  were  unfavorable, 
the  thought  occurred  that  a  post-hole 
digger  might  assist  in  transferring  the 
plants  with  but  little  disturbance.  The 
tool  used  consists  of  two  curved  blades  so 
hinged  together  that  by  manipulating 
two  long  handles,  after  the  blades  have 
been  thrust  into  the  soil,  they  lift  out  a 
solid  prism  about  six  inches  in  diameter 
and  nine  inches  long.  First.  I  prepared 
the  hole  for  the  plant  hy  means  of  the 
post-hole  digger,  which  was  quickly  done. 
Then,  straddling  the  tool  over  the  plant 
to  be  moved  the  blades  were  thrust  down 
their  full  length,  the  handles  moved  so  as 
to  compress  lightly  the  enclosed  soil,  and 
to  hold  it  between  the  blades  while  the 
tool  was  raised  and  lowered  to  a  horizon¬ 
tal  position.  It  was  thus  carried  to  the 
prepared  hole  and  inserted,  the  handles 
moved  so  as  to  slightly  open  the  bind  s, 
and  the  tool  removed,  leaving  the  plant 
snugly  in  position  without  disturbing  the 
soil  in  which  the  fine,  hair-like  roots  are 
imbedded.  A  very  slight  compression  of 
the  soil  outside,  and  the  plant  was  as 
much  “at  home”  as  though  it  had  not 
been  moved.  The  subjects  of  my  first 
experiments  had  runners  about  two  feet 
long;  notwithstanding  that  they  were  ex¬ 
posed  to  a  hot  sun  they  did  not  wilt,  and 
have  shown  no  evidence  of  a  setback 
from  the  moving.  I  have  since  used  the 
post-hole  digger  in  moving  other  plants 
with  entire  success.  When  transplanting 
with  a  spade  or  trowel,  although  quite  a 
mass  of  soil  may  be  removed  with  the 
plant,  there  is  always  risk  of  breaking  or 
displacing  the.  fine  roots  in  adjusting  it 
to  the  hole  made  for  it.  This  is  avoided 
when  the  digger  is  used  as  it  makes  a 
hole  into  which  the  prism  of  soil  re¬ 
moved  with  the  plant  exactly  fits:  a  little 
water  poured  into  the  seam  closes  it  per¬ 
fectly:  The  work  is  done  more  quickly, 
and  the  hands  need  not  be  soiled.  It  is, 
of  course,  useful  only  in  transplanting 
plants  suited  to  its  size.  The  tool  is  not 
F.  P.  Maxwell,  of  Buckhannon,  W.  Va., 
writes:  “There  is  no  trouble  to  grind  3  tons 
per  hour.  I  had  about  900  tons  ground  last 
year  and  do  not  notice  any  wear  on  the 
grinder.  I  think  it  is  the  best  and  cheapest 
way  to  get  lime  to  doctor  sour  lands.  It  did  no* cost  me  more 
than  50  e's  per  ton  to  eet  our  reck  and  pulverize  same."  If 
you  have  Unicrock  on  your  Farm  it  wi.i  p.;y  you  i->t  as  it  has 
paid  Mr.  Maxwell — Savin?  yoa  from  it.  50  to  SdLO  per  ton. 
NOZV  >s  the  time  to  consider  the 
purchase  of  Lime  for  Fall  use. 
i  Caledonia 
I  Marl  Lime 
lias  madesome  wonderful  records 
im  for  quick  and  lasting  results.  Be- 
Vu\  fore  you  buy  your  lime,  send  for 
yeft  our  prices  and 
=  m  BOOK  OF  LIME  FACTS  .free) 
m  INTERNATION’L  ACR’L  CORP’N 
'  m  808  MARINE  BANK  BLDG. 
GAMY  BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 
C5he  Jeffrey  IjmePulveR 
Grind*  limestone  to  any  fineness — handles  rock  weighing  60 
lbs.or  more.  Built  in  sizes  to  suit  engines  from  8  h.p.  to  30 
h.  p.,  wiih  out-uts  of  from  1  to  7  tons  per  hour.  Saves  you 
from  SI.  SO  to  * ’.50  on  every  ran — no  hauling — no  freight  to 
p-.y.  Every  machine  guaranteed.  Write  for  information  about 
new  sizes  and  FREEtrial  offer.  [27] 
THE  JEFFREY  MFG.  CO. 
265  First  Avenue  Columbus.  Ohio 
-os  to  a  menioa  or  applying  liquid  ma¬ 
nure,  I  have  recently  seen  an  arrange¬ 
ment  which  answers  a  double  purpose 
and  which  may  he  of  interest.  A  wagon 
tank  used  regularly  in  season  for  spray¬ 
ing  had  a  large  valve  mounted  in  the  bot¬ 
tom,  the  valve  being  about  three  inches 
and  of  a  type  Hot  easily  clogged.  This 
delivered  the  liquid  to  a  box  slightly 
wider  than  the  wheels  with  three-fourtlis 
inch  holes  in  the  bottom.  The  box  was 
only  about  six  inches  wide  but  24  inches 
deep  so  as  to  take  care  of  any  difference 
hot  ween  the  amount  delivered  it  by  the 
valve  in  the  tank  and  the  holes  in  the 
box.  I  saw  the  arrangement  tried  with 
water  and  it  seemed  all  that  could  be 
desired.  The  valve,  of  course,  can  be 
kept  closed  in  spraying  and  the  box 
could  be  taken  off  by  removing  a  few 
bolts  and  the  tank  used  for  spraying. 
New  York.  m.  m. 
The  New  York  State  School  of  Agriculture  at  Morrisville,  N.  Y 
m 
