24 THE COTTAGE GARDENER x4ND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.- October 14, 183G. 
if possible, for this work. Still it must not be delayed, as 
the plants often standing very thick on the seed-bed 
injure each other if allowed to remain. There is a 
certain time when they handle nicely, and it is best to 
take advantage of that time. In late, cold, or very ex¬ 
posed situations it may be necessary to sow the main 
crop under glass, and even to prick it out under that 
shelter too ; but in most cases it is sufficiently early for 
the main winter crop when done out of doors, taking care 
that the ground it is planted on is good, and also that 
nothing in the shape of weeds or other impediments 
prevent its prospering. 
Trenches and their Situation. —An open position 
is indispensable. Soil rich and deep, and though the 
plant likes moisture, the ground must not be unduly 
charged with stagnant water, otherwise it will not keep 
in winter. In a general way the fine alluvial soil bor¬ 
dering rivers or at the base of bills is the one best 
adapted for Celery, which is, perhaps, grown nowhere to 
greater perfection than in the valley of the Mersey and 
throughout Lancashire. Good Celery is also grown by 
the sides of the 'Thames, and, in fact, it may be grown 
tolerably good almost anywhere by supplying it with a 
rich compound to grow in, and sufficient moisture in 
the dry months of early autumn ; and as few growers 
have much choice of soils, it is only requisite that the 
position of the Celery trenches should be quite clear of 
trees and other encumbrances; and, under whatever cir¬ 
cumstances the ground may be in, it is at all times pru¬ 
dent to have the trenches made and ready for planting at 
least one full month before it is done, as this enables the 
subsoil to become somewhat fertilised by the action of 
the atmosphere, and where circumstances, or the preced¬ 
ing crop, render this course inexpedient, the material 
the plants are inserted in must be brought from some 
well-pulverised and healthy soil. This, of course, refers 
to the bottom of the trenches, as it is supposed the crop 
is to be planted out that way, the mode of which is so 
well understood as hardly to require notice here; but if 
detail be necessary it is this:—Divide the ground into 
divisions of four feet and a half wide, which will be a 
three-feet ridge and eighteen inch trench; throw the earth 
out of the latter over the former to the depth of twelve 
or fifteen inches or more, and then stir the bottom if it 
be still good; if not, throw some more out; then wheel in 
good rotten dung, and mix with it some of the surface 
soil tlirown out of the trenches, or, if better is to be had 
elsewhere, let that bo brought. With this and the dung 
let the trench be bait filled, as a trench nine iuches 
deep will, in most cases, be sufficient; but if the nature 
of the soil and other circumstances forbid that depth, 
then allow a greater breadth between, and the result 
will be the same. One thing must always be avoided— 
digging up an unhealthy subsoil at the bottom of the 
trench, and planting the Celery in that at once. In such 
a medium it is useless to expect it to thrive; therefore, when 
Nature hasnot provided agood depth of healthy, good soil, 
let the bottom portion be exchanged for better, and the 
vigorous growth of the crop will amply compensate for 
the extra labour occasioned. Good well-rotted dung is 
indispensable, and such as had formed the outside of the 
heap is better adapted for the roots at once penetrating 
than the interior portion. Mix it well with the soil 
in the trench, only let tlio surface be formed of soil alone, 
unless the dung be in a very decomposed state ; in which 
case, some of it being at the top will prevent the water¬ 
ings hardening the surface. 
Time oe Planting-out. —The first crop, if grown in 
pans or boxes as above, will be ready to plant out 
by the end of April, before which time the trenches 
ought to be prepared and ready for it, and the plants 
being gradually hardened off are in a condition fit to 
endure all the changes of weather that follow. Let 
the earth in the pans or boxes be broken into lumps, 
so as each -plant may have a good-sized ball, and, in 
fact, let the whole earth be used amongst them. As 
it is likely the whole will be a close mat of roots, plant 
them in the trenches about eight or ten inches apart 
in a straight row up the centre, and, if necessary, water 
at the same time. The after-crops may be planted at 
various times, from the end of May until the beginning 
of September; but, in a general way, July is the most 
favourable month for planting-out, those planted then 
furnishing the general autumn and winter crops. But 
a week or two is no particular object; the size of the 
plants, state of the weather, and other circumstances, 
often determining the time of planting, only it must 
be observed, that when large Celery is wanted it must 
not be too late in being planted, as it rarely happens 
that fast-growing Celery starts to seed; it is more likely 
for such as have had a check to do so when the next 
growing period comes on. The last planted-out Celery 
may be in broad trenches, as it is not likely to become 
large, and a trench six feet broad will hold a great 
number of plants in cross rows one foot apart, and the 
plants about eight inches from each other in the row. 
The earthing-up must bo carefully performed in this 
case; but in other respects the treatment is the same, 
and the quantity of plants to a stated plot of ground is 
more than double what would be on the single row 
system, and it often happens very good Celery, too, 
is obtained this way. Watering in very dry weather 
will be beneficial to all the crops; but let there be 
plenty administered when it is given, and stir the earth 
a little next day. It is best to water in dull, gloomy 
weather, when there may, perhaps, be a slight shower, 
but not sufficient to reach the roots, and when the plant 
is in full growth manure-water may be administered 
with advantage, and in the early months of autumn 
the progress will be very rapid ; but a portion of it 
may not be so much hastened on, as a rapid growth is 
not always compatible with hardihood, and it suffers 
accordingly in winter. It is better, therefore, to have 
various growths, the earliest of all being in the most 
favourable situation, a south border being often appro¬ 
priated for a row or two where early Celery is wanted ; 
but, if not wanted so soon, then the ordinary crop will, 
perhaps, suffice. 
Blanching Process. —Much difference of opinion 
exists in regard to this. Our forefathers used simply to 
earth it up when they thought it wanted it, which was 
certainly not a bad idea. Subsequently, however, it 
became customary only to do that duty in dry weather, 
and by-and-by it was advised to do that work very 
often in the growing season, beginning to do it very 
early. But some great authority stood forth, and told us 
that Celery ought never to be earthed up at all until 
it had nearly attained its full growth ; consequently, we 
had the “heavy earthing period” for a time, and some 
growers follow it out yet; but, iu a general way, a 
sort of medium course between the two extremes is best, 
and most likely to lead to a useful result. The plan is 
this:—Be not in too great a haste to begin earthing it up 
if it be growing away freely, but let it get a good height, 
and even then it is better not to give it much, but to 
allow the top a good deal of head-room, as 1 have found 
it to grow all the better for it; but by-aud-by, as the 
season advances, the blanching or earthing-up process 
must be followed up faster than the plant grows, in 
order to make up the lost time at the beginning, so that, 
before the time the plant has ceased growing, it may 
have been earthed or covered up the full depth necessary 
for its blanching; for it cannot be too generally known 
that the growing and blanching processes go on simul¬ 
taneously, and the latter is not well performed without 
the former, neither is it in so healthy a state when it has 
to be done so; therefore, let the blanching be done 
before too late iu the autumn in all but the very late crop. 
