OF ONE AGEE. 
77 
be planted with .a “ Self-blanching ” variety as early 
in the spring as the plants can be procured. For 
this it is a good plan to sow two or three drills of 
celery in the hotbed at the same time with tomatoes, 
peppers, etc., that they may be ready for planting out 
early in the spring. These will grow quickly before 
the very hot weather sets in, and in a favorable sea¬ 
son will be ready for use by the latter part of August; 
if kept earthed up they will be of as handsome 
appearance and a§ crisp and fine flavored as are the 
older varieties in December. 
For the main crop the young plants should be ready 
to set out by the 1st of July, though in a favorable 
locality they can be planted as late as the middle of 
August, as they spend the summer largely in making 
roots and do not grow much until the cool weather. As 
soon as the plants attain eight to ten inches in height, 
or, rather, length of leaf stalk as they lie spread out, the 
earthing up should begin on all kinds of celery, 
although the seed catalogues will tell you that it is 
unnecessary in self-bleaching kinds. These latter 
may be bleached easily by tying the stalks together 
, with straw or soft twine, but the earthing-up process 
is much more satisfactory both to produce a compact 
bunch of stalks and an even whiteness in color; other¬ 
wise, the outside stalks will remain green. 
My plan in earthing for the first time, or “ hand¬ 
ling/’ as it is called, is to have the dirt loose and fine 
on each side of the row, then to stand astride the 
row, gather all the leaves up and hold them closely 
in the left hand, and with a short-handled hoe draw 
the loose dirt in and pack it firmly around the stalks, 
