— * ■ ■ ■ ■» < V m 1 ~ r ~ ~~ 
3GI THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, September 8, 1857. 
the latter period. When the plants from these sowings 
are sufficiently advanced they are either pricked into beds 
of rich mould, or are at once transplanted into their per¬ 
manent situations, provided the early crops have been cleared 
from the trenches previously prepared for their growth. 
The earthing up or blanching process is usually effected 
by three different operations: the first takes place when the 
plants have grown nine or ten inches in height; the small 
leaves immediately above the roots and all embryo suckers 
are very carefully removed. After that the bed is completely 
saturated with rich liquid manure, but subsequently to this 
period I do not consider it requisite that any artificial water¬ 
ing should take place; the beds are then covered with about 
four inches of mould from the ridges, which helps to keep 
the plants in an erect position, and acts like a mulching on 
the roots, thereby preventing in some measure the evapo¬ 
ration of moisture from the bed. Some three weeks before 
When sufficient blanching material has 
been deposited, the boards are carefully 
withdrawn and placed in the opposite row; 
and it will be readily understood that the 
fine mould which had passed through the 
vacuum formed between the boards will 
be in immediate connection with the leaves 
of the plants, the common earth placed in 
the centre of the row enabling it to main¬ 
tain that position. These boards can, of 
course, be readily set any required distance 
apart, that distance being determined by 
the quantity of blanching material at com¬ 
mand. This mode, whether applied to 
single rows or the more economical system 
of bed culture, I consider to be at least 
equal in its effects to any advantage that 
can be derived from the use of tiles—and 
this altogether apart from any consideration 
of the original expense of such ware, or 
the frequent breakage arising from the 
action of frost or other inevitable causes; 
and where, as at a ducal establishment I was formerly con¬ 
nected with, 12,000 plants were annually grown, the item for 
such dilapidations would amount to something considerable, 
and that, too, without conferring any equivalent benefit. 
The third and final earthing of the early crops is accom¬ 
plished at intervals of ten or twelve days before the Celery 
is required for use—placing the mould high and close about 
the leaves. I have, however, found a different system to be 
advantageous with Celery intended for winter use. Some 
time towards the latter part of October, when the weather 
is dry and favourable, the plants are fully earthed up, but 
the soil is neither put so high nor is so closely packed to the 
leaves as is recommended for the earlier crops, as I have 
found it to keep better under such conditions. After the 
winter has fairly set in I have a sufficient quantity for a 
fortnight’s consumption covered over with leaves which had 
previously been heated, and from which cause they will 
readily remain in flakes of some six inches in thickness, 
and resist alike the action of frost or moisture. The cover¬ 
ing over a day’s consumption is merely removed with a fork 
so much further on to the bed, and this takes place from 
day to day. When, however, severe frosts set in, the whole 
of the ridges are covered over in the same manner, but the 
protection is removed on the recurrence of favourable 
weather, in order that the plants should not suffer from 
being too closely excluded from the atmosphere. 
It will be perceived from the system here recommended 
that an enormous mass of vegetable matter can readily be 
obtained from a very limited portion of ground—that from 
the mode of arrangement the operations necessary for the 
cultivation of one crop become subservient to that of another 
—that the soil, from being so very frequently turned and 
aerated in fine weather, becomes fully disintegrated, and 
finally mixed with so large a portion of rich material, it is 
in a very favourable condition for the succeeding crop—and 
that such a system carried through any part of a garden 
must inevitably change its condition, however obdurate or 
sterile the nature of the soil may be. Moreover, this con¬ 
centrated mode of cultivation economises not only labour, 
but manure and water also ; the plants, too, being in close 
proximity, afford a mutual shelter, and consequently a 
the early crop is required for use the second earthing takes 
place, and is performed in the following manner by two 
operators: two boards some eight or nine inches in depth, 
and equal in length to the width of the bed, are placed 
edgeways between the rows, each board resting against the 
plants in either row, so as to form at once space for the 
reception of the mould and a protection to the leaves whilst 
the operation of earthing is being performed. When the 
required quantity of soil has been deposited the boards are 
carefully withdrawn and placed between the next two rows, 
and so the work proceeds until all has been completed. 
When the soil is of a very wet, tenacious, or repugnant 
character, dry ashes, fine mould, or other material can 
readily be introduced next the plants, for which purpose 
double boards properly adjusted and fixed to each other 
form a ready medium by which to introduce the material 
thus :— 
quicker growth ensues than under circumstances of greater 
exposure, and on this altogether depend that crispness aud 
solidity so desirable in this esculent. 
A root crop is that which usually follows in the routine, 
being not only of a totally different character to the crops 
of the previous season, but from the circumstance of the 
ground having been cultivated so deeply, and so frequently 
and thoroughly aerated, it might be considered to be in a 
state well adapted for their growth, and more especially the 
tap-rooted sections of that class. I have this season, how¬ 
ever, been induced bo change that routine from the circum¬ 
stance of the site being very favourable for a permanent 
crop, in much request here, and it is now being planted 
with Wilmot’s late Red Currant, with Cauliflowers between 
the rows, which will be again interlined with the successional 
plants on which the early crops of Strawberries are growing 
so soon as they have been removed from the forcing houses. 
— (Horticultural Society's Journal.) 
TREES ATTAINING A GREAT AGE OR SIZE. 
THE YEW AND OAK. 
It will, I believe, be generally admitted that trees are 
the noblest objects in natural history, towering above 
everything having a living form, and attaining an age 
which in some instances seems coeval with creation 
itself. It is not to be wondered at that trees have at all 
times been especial objects of veneration. Our Druidical 
ancestors seem to have been as much attached to the 
favourite monarch of their forests as were the idolatrous 
tribes recorded in holy writ to their groves and high 
places; and in more recent times many important events 
have taken place under trees, which, apart from their 
intrinsic beauty, render certain trees objects of much 
curiosity. But it is not my purpose to dwell on this 
subject, but to call attention to the points which have 
assisted very large or aged trees to arrive at their present 
Section across the bed showing the Mode of Earthing Celery with 
doable boards. 
1, Manure-bed $ 2, First earthing; 3, Celery Plants; 4, Vacuum between the adjusted 
boards to receive fine blanching material; 5, Common earth from the ridges. 
