Jui.Y 15. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
245 I 
it is exhibited with more of its outer covering on than is 
agreeable to the taste of all who like celery, whereas the 
latter is satisfied if it be large enough to occupy the 
stand allotted to it on the dinner-table. And this vege¬ 
table, unlike fruit, can be made to occupy a much less 
space than the cultivator intended it should, so much 
so, that we have no doubt some of our ardent celery- 
growers, who glory in sending in heads of celery as thick 
as horses’ legs, would feel much annoyed were they to see 
their protege divested of some of its outer leaf-stalks, 
and sent to table about half its original circumference. 
Yet the kitchen-authorities are perhaps wiser than the 
gardener; they, knowing their employer’s good taste, 
are fully aware that, however large a head of celery may 
be, the centre of it is always the best, and consequently 
send in little but such as they are aware he will eat. 
Now, though it is easy to understand that the central 
portion of a good, large head, must be better than that 
of a small, indifferently grown one, yet it would be 
difficult to say whether a piece the thickness of a 
person’s finger taken from the middle of a head of me¬ 
dium size is not so good as that from a much larger 
one ; aud if connoisseurs insist on using only this small 
portion, then the cultivation must be regulated so as 
to produce quantity rather than heads of extraordinary 
size, and to accomplish that object where ground is 
scarce, “the broad trench” system must be adopted, and 
more especially for the main crop. In making a broad 
trench, we generally allow the width to be six feet (more 
; is inconvenient), a few inches of the earth is cast out, 
which may either be the top or understratum, dung or 
other enriching matter is dug in in the usual way, and 
the plants put in rows across, about a foot between the 
rows, and generally ten plants in each row of six feet; a 
space of moderate dimensions holds a good many plants, 
and if the ground be good, and the season favourable, 
the produce will be more remunerative than by the 
single row recommended for very early or late crops, 
the former on account of giving it every encouragement 
to hasten its growth, and the latter in order to withstand 
the many changes it is subject to in winter. The 
earthing-up of broad rows is not attended with so much 
trouble as is imagined; three or four thin boards the 
required length, laid so as to keep the earth from bury¬ 
ing the plants, are made use of, and it is surprising how 
quickly two active men will get over a large piece in 
that way; and the celery grows equally as well as by 
any other, while in the application of liquid manure 
there can be no waste, because wliat escapes one plant 
must be taken up by another, they being so close. We 
generally earth this crop up with the ordinary soil at 
hand, but if ashes or sand were used, no doubt but the 
celery would keep better, the principal difficulty with 
sand is preventing it running in too close, and thereby 
sealing up some of those shorter stalks so necessary to 
remain; ashes are less heavy, and, consequently, not 
so likely to obstruct vegetation forcing its way through. 
Most other substances, as hay-bands, moss, litter, &c., 
are liable to the very bad property of inviting slugs and 
other insects, to which we are compelled to say the 
drain-tile plan, either in whole or in halves, are likewise 
liable, otherwise the latter plan is not without its good 
t properties; still, worms and slugs congregate in such 
numbers, and occupying almost every fold of the leaf¬ 
stalk, soon render it unfit for use. 
Unlike many other vegetables, the varieties of celery as 
a whole have improved but little during the last quarter 
of a century. True, the common long-stalked-piped-white 
may be less seen now than formerly, yet the best kinds 
cultivated at that period differ but little from the best 
of the present day, more especially in red celery, which, 
taken as a whole, keeps better than white, and may 
perhaps be more generally solid, but it certainly does 
not exceed it for quality and general utility. Like 
everything else, the varieties soon degenerate; and how¬ 
ever unwilling the cultivator may be to introduce fresh 
names, we fear he must do so, if he buys his seeds at all; 
otherwise submit to the vexation of finding half his 
crop useless by its running away, becoming hollow, or 
otherwise inferior. These evils are not easily guarded 
against even by those who save their own seed, unless 
they take care to select only the best to save it from; in 
doing which bear in mind that the property of “ not 
running away ” until late in the spring is one of the 
utmost importance; size, quality, and other general 
features should of course be combined. Amateurs 
generally produce better celery than gentlemen’s gar¬ 
deners, because their object is often appearance, while 
that furnished by the market gardener, aud sent to 
London, might vie with either, more especially with 
regard to the quality of the kinds grown. Their 
uniformity, and the economy of the mode they adopt, 
which, however, cannot always be copied in a garden of 
mixed produce, because there not one or two objects 
alone demand attention and space, but a whole legion 
of articles together shoulder each other for the best 
plans. That celery deserves one of the very best is 
universally admitted; yet it not uufrequently happens 
the plot intended for it, or part of it, may be under a 
crop of equal importance, which cannot be got off so 
early as would be desirable. In that case, the thoughtful 
cultivator prepares for it accordingly, and thinning his 
nursery beds in what plantation he is enabled to make, 
bis plants are progressing where they are, and as 
nothing lifts with balls better than celery, it is surprising 
what largo plants may be removed with very little 
damage; of course taking advantage of suitable weather 
and other favourable chances. 
The summer crops which celery is often destined to 
follow, or wait for, are often Peas, Potatoes, autumn 
Onions, or for the last crop spring Onions. We usually 
avoid planting it on ground previously occupied by 
cauliflower-, while spinach, even summer salads, forming, 
as they often do, an intermediate crop between some¬ 
thing else, can hardly be regarded as being apart from 
the principals. Dry, sound ground suits it best, only it 
must not be that hungry dry sand or gravel which 
retains nothing but what the elements furnish it with, 
and if that aid be withheld, adieu to all prospects of good 
celery. Inhabiting, as it does in a wild state, a marshy 
situation, it doubtless flourishes best in a similar one, 
only such a positiou is inimical to its keeping, con¬ 
sequently a more suitable soil must be made use 
of; at the same time we beg our young friends to re¬ 
member that this is one of the most greedy plants they 
have to deal with. It will devour dung by the waggon¬ 
load, and drink liquid manure like a confirmed toper, 
but, differing from the latter personage, its frame will 
present that uniform enlargement which in the (sup¬ 
posed) rational being takes place only on certain spots, 
and then not always so as to be conducive to his well 
being. J. Robson. 
THE MALAY EOWL. 
The Malay should be large and heavy; those of the ; 
purest breeding are so compact aud close-featliered, that 
the weight is greater than any one would imagine from only i 
looking at them. 
They stand very tall, and have an upright gait; the neck 
is rope-like, with no hackle; the legs are long, and re- \ 
markably long, strong and firm in the thigh; the shaft of ; 
the leg should be of moderate length, round, stout, and 
yellow; tail drooping—the more it droops the better; the | 
head is snake-shaped, so much flattened on the top that it J 
quite overhangs the eye; comb broad, and almost flat to j 
the head; a pearl eye; hawk bill, in colour agreeing with 
the bird’s plumage; a dark bill to a light bird is ugly. 
Their propensity for fighting is too well -known to need 
